Expert:Thailand may face either floods or drought in 2012

BANGKOK, June 30 (TNA) - A Thai expert, Smith Thammasaroj, Chairman of the National Disaster Warning Council, warned Sa that Thailand could either experience a repeated massive flooding if the country was hit by a series of storms until this September, or a severe drought if there were insufficient downpours. Smith acknowledged that an excessive amount of water in upstream areas, beyond their water retention capacities, could cause a renewed massive flooding in Thailand later this year, in the wake of a flooding crisis late last year, if the country was hit by a series of storms with heavy downpours in the coming months. Smith said in case of severe drought, the opposite phenomenon, people and farmlands in Thailand's northeastern and central regions could be hardest hit, as water released from dams would then become insufficient for domestic consumption and farming. The senior expert also cautioned that Thailand could be at risk of gradual rising of seawater over the next 8-9 years, when Bangkok and surrounding provinces could become inundated. According to the senior expert, flood prevention in Bangkok could be made by constructing a seaside barrier with the length of 90 kilometres starting from Cha-am District of Phetchaburi province in the Lower Thai South to Bang Pakong district of Chachoengsao province in the Thai East in order to seal water from Thailand's main Chao Phraya, Tha Chin and Bang Pakong Rivers. (TNA)