Massive flood volume nearing Bangkok

BANGKOK, 22 October 2011 (NNT) – Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra announced this morning the government has opted to protect important official buildings and economic zones of Bangkok from northern runoff by allowing the approaching floodwater to pass through the southern part of the city before flowing into the Chao Phraya River.

In her weekly radio address broadcast live nationwide, Ms Yingluck said the expected massive volume of water flowing from various provinces was moving closer to the capital and must be pushed into the sea as fast as possible. The government’s planned action would protect important and strategic places in the city like Don Mueang and Suvarnabhumi airports, rail and sky train systems, expressways, water and electricity production facilities, as well as logistics routes to transport necessities to flood-affected people in and out of Bangkok.

The Prime Minister indicated that the incoming water mass would be guided to the southern part of Bangkok, and the procedure would be made gradually in order not to cause too much trouble to people in the zone. Ms Yingluck reassured that the government had drawn up a contingency plan and asked the people to monitor information to be provided by the Flood Relief Operations Center. The FROC has already urged people in flood-risk zones to lift their belongings by 1 meter higher, and, if possible, to cut out the electricity on the first floor of their houses for the safety to lives and property.