Yingluck urges Bangkokians not to panic as canals fill up

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday pleaded with the public not to panic when Bangkok's canals fill up as floodwater is diverted out to nearby rivers.

“Please understand that the water comes from opening water gates to drain the water as soon as possible. We have to let the water flow smoothly. We know that water is now trapped in the plains and many areas. With the drainage, trapped water will drop fast. If we block all flows, problems will follow as some dykes can’t block or hold the water. The dykes are also made of earth so they can crumble,” she said.

Some areas in Bangkok are already experiencing flooding, but still at controllable levels, while the water has not yet reached other areas.

Residents are advised to move their belongings at least one metre higher and park their cars at safe and suitable places, she said.

Some low or eroded areas might have to face a little flooding but the water would be pumped out as soon as possible, she said.

All of Bangkok’s sluice gates will be opened, but in rotation, so the water can flow to the east.

That was easier than trying to discharge the floodwater to the west, as the Tha Chin River was higher, she said after meeting with Irrigation Department directorgeneral Chalit Damrongsak, Science Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi and former Bangkok governor Bhichit Rattakul.

In the long run, Thailand will have to set up a water management system, she said.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said the flood situation has not reached the critical stage and the areas under close monitoring remain the same. 

“Bangkok has not announced more closemonitoring areas besides the seven districts (that were declared at risk earlier). But the government should take care of the three sensitive areas as they are out of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s hands. They are the Lak Hok subdistrict of Pathum Thani, the area under the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority and Paholyothin Road crossing over Rangsit Canal,” he said.

The capital would do its part by draining water in Samsen Canal to reduce the water in Waterworks Canal.

After inspecting preparations at Siriraj Hospital, Sukhumbhand said the sandbag barrier had been raised to 2.8 metres above sea level. It should be safe but the city was ready to build it higher at any time.

The hospital also put up a 200metrelong retaining wall made of cement bags that was 1.2 metres high.

Justice Minister Pracha Promnok, the director of the Flood Relief Operations Centre, said after going on an aerial survey he was 90 per cent sure that Bangkok would be safe but there still was 10percent room for uncertainty. 

Citing the example of the 26kilometre dyke now under construction, Pracha said both the BMA and the military were very helpful as the government works to solve the problem. 

To restore people’s confidence in FROC’s announcements, the presentation was changed to the reading out of statements so there was no need to change the spokesmen, he said. The only concern was that people not directly in charge were spreading news.

The directors of Don Mueang and Lak Si district offices in northern Bangkok said there were no signs of floods entering their areas yet but sandbags and pumps had been prepared to drain any inflow out. 

Rabiab Koobkrabi, director of the Lak Si District Office, said the flood in Muang Thong Thani 1 was due to the release of water while the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority was fixing problems with the Waterworks canal.

Poomipat Damrongkiatisak, director of the Don Muang District Office, said residents should be wary of rumours but anyone who feels uneasy can move to prepared evacuation centres.

Aroon Puangsombat, director of the Min Buri District Office, said the flood’s impact on the district would depend on the level of Saen Saeb Canal in the area and how the water would be channelled out according to the government’s plan.

The situation would be monitored and reported on every three to six hours, he said.

Saen Saeb Canal links to Bang Pakong River to the east of Bangkok.

Panu Kerdlarppol, the deputy Metropolitan Police commissioner overseeing traffic control, said police in each area had been ordered to prepare traffic plans for emergency and evacuation routes and meeting points. Police have also coordinated with the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority for alternate transportation.

Some roads were washed out for a short period of time due to the rising river tide but that had not disrupted traffic much, he said.