Operation centre opened at Don Mueang as floods worsen
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The government has set up an operation centre at Don Mueang Airport as the flooding situation in Ayutthaya worsens, forcing authorities to close a section of the Asian Highway in the province, the country's main route to the North.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra chaired a meeting at Don Mueang Airport at 10am Friday to tackle the flood crisis threatening the capital, Bangkok. The floods have largely shut down Ayutthaya, the former capital.
The centre has been set up to respond to the flooding in 28 provinces, which have claimed at least 244 lives and are affecting 7.5 million rai of land. Currently 1,215 factories in 33 provinces are under water affecting 42,000 workers.
The airport, which functions for some domestic flights, is now offering free parking for the public if their homes are at risk from flooding.
The three-storey parking building for domestic passengers and the five-storey cargo building can serve 3,000 vehicles, said acting president of the Airports of Thailand (AoT) Somchai Sawasdipol.
The floods forced a section of the Asian Highway in Ayutthaya to close yesterday and motorists to the North must use a detour to Bang Bua Thong in Nonthaburi and to Suphan Buri before returning to the Asian Highway in Chai Nat.
The flood situation in Ayutthaya worsened on Friday as more floodwater flowed through damaged dykes.
Meanwhile, flooding hit the tourist city of Pattaya on Friday after heavy rain triggered flooding on the inbound and outbound Sukhumvit Road near Pattaya. Floodwaters flowed into houses along the road and car owners had to park their vehicles on the higher roadside.
Local officials of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department are expediting drainage of the floodwater. Clogged sewers were blamed for flooding.
