ID :
211841
Sun, 10/09/2011 - 10:56
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http://m.oananews.org//node/211841
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Workers to drain excess water into river on fears of flood in Bangkok
BANGKOK, October 9 (TNA) - Anxieties over expected high sea tides and heavy downpours in the Thai capital later this week are forcing workers of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to try to drain excess water from the North into Chao Phraya River by as much as 20 million cubic metres a day, a senior BMA official said.
Sanya Cheenimit, chief of BMA’s Drainage and Sewerage Department, said a close surveillance is being made by BMA officers as volume of water discharged from dams in the North is increasing daily while the water level in canals in Bangkok is also rising due to continuous rains, causing difficulty to discharge excess water to Chao Phraya River.
High sea tides are anticipated between October 13-15, especially this Saturday when the seawater level is projected to increase to 1.11 metres before rising again to 1.31 metres on October 29, he said, adding that a close monitoring on seawater is essential.
Attempts are being made presently by BMA workers to drain excess water into the river by as much as 20 million cubic metres per day with an objective to prevent Bangkok from being hit by flood.
Meanwhile, Deputy Public Health Minister Torphong Chaiyasarn presided over sending a caravan carrying relief supply for flood victims in Bangkok’s neighbouring provinces of Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani. Volunteers including doctors from the Public Health Ministry’s Mental Health Department and entertainers left the Equestrian statue in central Bangkok.
Realising that it is still difficult to render government assistance to every flood victim because several areas are still under heavily deep floodwater while many do not want to leave their flooded homes on concerns of their effects, Torphong suggested that the victims should come and stay at temporary shelters set up by the government so that necessities could be given to them.
As severe flood has continued in the country for about two months now, Torphong said about ten of thousand of flood victims are now suffering from severe stress of which more than 1,500 persons face risks of committing suicide. (TNA)
Sanya Cheenimit, chief of BMA’s Drainage and Sewerage Department, said a close surveillance is being made by BMA officers as volume of water discharged from dams in the North is increasing daily while the water level in canals in Bangkok is also rising due to continuous rains, causing difficulty to discharge excess water to Chao Phraya River.
High sea tides are anticipated between October 13-15, especially this Saturday when the seawater level is projected to increase to 1.11 metres before rising again to 1.31 metres on October 29, he said, adding that a close monitoring on seawater is essential.
Attempts are being made presently by BMA workers to drain excess water into the river by as much as 20 million cubic metres per day with an objective to prevent Bangkok from being hit by flood.
Meanwhile, Deputy Public Health Minister Torphong Chaiyasarn presided over sending a caravan carrying relief supply for flood victims in Bangkok’s neighbouring provinces of Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani. Volunteers including doctors from the Public Health Ministry’s Mental Health Department and entertainers left the Equestrian statue in central Bangkok.
Realising that it is still difficult to render government assistance to every flood victim because several areas are still under heavily deep floodwater while many do not want to leave their flooded homes on concerns of their effects, Torphong suggested that the victims should come and stay at temporary shelters set up by the government so that necessities could be given to them.
As severe flood has continued in the country for about two months now, Torphong said about ten of thousand of flood victims are now suffering from severe stress of which more than 1,500 persons face risks of committing suicide. (TNA)
