Typhoon Xangsane adds trouble to Thailand Sunday

BANGKOK Sept 28 (TNA) - Thailand's Meteorology Department on Thursday warned travellers to the Philippines to monitor current weather forecasts as typhoon Xangsane is battering the northern and central
Philippines, so far killing four people there while paralysing the capital city Manila.

The Thai weather authorities said the typhoon, even though it has already weakened into a storm as it passed Manila, would move to the South China Sea and effect Thailand's weather on Sunday, adding
rainfall just when Thailand doesn't want it.

The storm is expected to intensify Thailand's rainfall and associated flooding, worsening the country's overall weather, which has seen heavy rains bringing floods to a number of upcountry towns this week.

The weather department has warned local people living by rivers and hills in the country's central plains and the East to remain vigilant against flash floods and landslides as it predicted some heavy rains
in the area Thursday.

TNA

Bangkok hit with floods

BANGKOK: Various spots of the eastern Bangkok had been submerged prompting Royal Irrigation Department chief to urged officials to keep drain into the Bang Pakong River and the Gulf of Thailand.

Samart Chokkanapitak said Thursday that although some areas would suffer blockage floods, the newly opened Suvarnabhumi Airport would not be affected. Following the airport's opening, the department would soon excavate 17 canals in the eastern Bangkok to increase its water-draining ability.

Samart also insisted the high sea tides and the northern floodwater passing through Chao Phraya River at 2,423 cubic metres per second would not submerge Bangkok. "The only factor that can cause flooding is heavy rainfall," he said.

Bangkok's Srinakharin, Pattanakarn and Ramkhamhaeng roads were kneedeep in water after Wednesday night's heavy downpours.

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin, who yesterday morning inspected the routes said officials worked had hard to drain floodwaters out of the areas and the situation should be back to normal by late afternoon Friday.

The Nation

FLOOD PREPARATIONS

Parts of city drained as typhoon nears

Rainfall - not sea tides or Chao Phya - the major factor in whether capital will flood; Suvarnabhumi 'not in danger area'

The Royal Irrigation Department chief has ordered officials to keep draining water from submerged parts of eastern Bangkok into the Bang Pakong River and the Gulf of Thailand.

The capital will also have to brace itself for Typhoon Xangsane - now battering the Philippines and moving towards the South China Sea - which will affect Thailand's weather on Sunday.

While some areas would suffer from flooding due to heavy rains, the newly opened Suvarnabhumi Airport would not be affected, department chief Samart Chokkanapitak said.

Following the airport's opening yesterday, the department plans to revamp 17 existing canals in eastern Bangkok and construct a new one from Samrong to Chai Talae, located on the coast, to increase water drainage.

Samart insisted the high sea tides and floodwaters from the North - which are passing through the Chao Phya River at a rate of 2,423 cubic metres per second - would not submerge Bangkok.

"The only factor that can cause flooding is heavy rainfall," he said.

Eastern Bangkok's Srinakarin, Pattanakarn and Ramkhamhaeng roads were knee-deep in water after Wednesday night's heavy downpours in Suan Luang, Prawet and Saphan Sung districts. Many residents in small sois were unable to leave home for work, prompting authorities to send trucks to give them a lift.

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin, who yesterday morning inspected the routes, said officials worked hard to drain floodwaters out of the areas and the situation should be back to normal by this afternoon.

Yesterday morning the Chao Phya River stood at 1.77 metres and was expected to rise to 1.8 metres by the evening, a level the flood barriers could handle, said Apirak.

Apirak called a meeting of 50 district heads to tackle the floods. He said the accumulated rainfall this year was 1,128 millilitres and that Typhoon Xangsane would bring heavy rainfall to Bangkok and the Kingdom's Central, eastern and southern regions.

The Bhumibol, Sirikit and Pasak Jorasit dams were now 90 per cent full and if there was more rain in the North, these dams would have to release water - which would affect Bangkok.

In the meantime, communities located outside the city's flood barriers - such as Bang Phlat district's Soi Charansanitwong 86 and 92 and Bang Sue district's 50 homes under Rama VI bridge - suffered saltwater flooding triggered by the massive seasonal inflows from the Gulf of Thailand. Officials installed pumps to drain the water and were assigned to be on watch for flood conditions 24 hours a day.

Meanwhile, public boat services on San Saeb Canal will be suspended for five days due to the high water level caused by heavy downpours, while Chao Phya River express boats are being told to slow down to reduce the impact on riverside residents.

Pairat Boondam, manager of the Family Transport Ltd - whose 70 craft provide 400 trips per day for 40,000 people - said boats could no longer pass under some bridges and those travelling at speed would cause a tidal surge to wash over riverside properties.

As a result, the company will cease operations for five days, after which time they would assess the flood situation and determine when to resume the service, he said.

Parinya Rakwathin of Chao Phraya Express Boat Co Ltd, which handles 38,000 passengers on weekdays and 30,000 on the weekend, said the company would be running as usual but advised its boat drivers to lower their speed from 15km per hour to 8kph.

The Nation

Quote:Yesterday morning the Chao Phya River stood at 1.77 metres and was expected to rise to 1.8 metres by the evening

I think that they may have meant 10.77 and 10.8 m :?: