Chao Phraya River hits record high, threatens to flood Bangkok

BANGKOK, Oct 11 (TNA) - The water level in Thailand's Chao Phraya River as it is flowing through the upper central province of Nakhon Sawan has hit its highest level in the 60 years such data has been recorded, posing a flood threat to the kingdom's lower provinces, including Bangkok, the capital.

Waters being collected from the Chao Phraya watershed are converging on Bangkok, even as the capital is experiencing additional torrential rainfall and localised flooding.

Royal Irrigation Department director-general Samart Chokanapitak said the river's level in Bangkok is now at 2.02 metres now and won't cause flooding in the capital at present.

However, he said, he is concerned that the waterflow at Nakhon Sawan has increased to 5,145 cubic metres per second, surpassing the highest measured speed and volume of 4,800 cubic metres recorded when the worst flood occurred in 1995.

The increased water level in the Chao Phraya at Nakhon Sawan was caused by waters pouring in from from the flood-soaked Yom River carrying runoff from the North, he said.

According to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, 17 provinces nationwide are now fully engaged in combating floods.

The meteorological department forecast that rainfall will decrease in the North, the Northeast, the East, and the Central regions, but more heavy rain is expected in the South particularly, in the upper south.

Local residents in Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, and Chumphon should brace for heavy rains, flash flooding, and forest run-off.

TNA

Bangkok governor confident to confront flood; no cracks in Sirikit Dam

BANGKOK, Oct 11 (TNA) - Faced with the largest ever recorded volumes of water heading towards the Thai capital, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) Wednesday nonetheless expressed confidence in the city's readiness to cope with the influx of waters flowing from the North.

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin said the BMA has prepared sufficient manpower, equipment and supplies--such as sandbags--to cope with greater flows of water from Nakhon Sawan province where four northern rivers join to form Thailand's Chao Phraya river, now at flood stage.

Nakhon Sawan has the largest volumes of water ever recorded in Thailand and they are expected to reach Bangkok within days--and the BMA governor is promising the dykes will not be breached.

The BMA is confident it could be able to protect the capital from flood, Governor Apirak said, adding that if the high tides are not critical and there was no heavy rain, the situation would be under control, said the governor.

He said the BMA will work closely with the Royal Irrigation Department on water discharge from the dams upriver from Bangkok.

Meanwhile, Sirikit Dam deputy director Suthep Lertsrimonkhon said the water level of the dam, located in the northern province of Uttaradit, was at 9, 332.49 million cubic metres and has ablity to receive more water about 177.51 million cubic metres.

Mr. Suthep affirmed that the Sirikit Dam was strong enough to retain its stored water and that no cracks had formed in its structure .

"News about a crack is completely a rumour," he said, "it is groundless."

The officials are monitoring water levels and the dam's condition on a round the clock basis, he said, adding that the dam has planned well regarding water inflows and discharges, so the public should not be worried over the strenghth of the dam.

TNA

An aerial photo of downtown Nakhon Sawan at Decharttiwong Bridge shows the southern part of the city on the right side of the river bank inundated by water from the Chao Phya River.

Photo by Manaschai Ananta The Nation

Floods for another month in Chao Phraya basin, Irrigation Department warns

BANGKOK, Oct 13 (TNA) - Flooding in Thailand's Chao Phraya river basin is expected to continue until next month, as the run-off moving south is still rising, Royal Irrigation Department (RID) chief Samart Chokkanapitak said on Friday.

As of Friday, official death toll rose to 47. Damage from the flood was estimated at 305.3 million baht (US$8.1 million), with more than 8,000 homes damaged, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

Delivering the bad news before boarding a helicopter to inspect flooding in eight Chao Phraya river basin provinces - Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Ayutthaya, Ang Thong, Sing Buri, Chai Nat, Uthai Thani, and Nakhon Sawan, Mr. Samart said he was concerned that the flooding would stay longer than previously expected--at least until mid-November.

Floodwaters in the central plains will not recede until late next month when the situation is expected to return to normal, he said.

The rising floodwaters in Nakhon Sawan are overflowing into nearby Uthai Thani. Many areas along the Chao Phraya River, from Nakhon Sawan to parts of Bangkok and Samut Prakan are now in worrisome situations. Suphan Buri, and Lop Buri could not be spared from floods as well, he said.

He advised all communities in the at-risk areas to be prepared to deal with flooding during this period.

The RID chief said the department is looking for more tracts of land available in the interior countryside areas far from the Chao Phraya River in order to divert excess water from the country's central waterway.

Senior officials are scheduled to focus on flood responses during a special meetng Saturday. Special attempts are being made to local low-lying areas which are still capable of absorbing water so that they can be used for water retention during this critcal period.

TNA