Flooding in Bang Bua thong, Pak Kret hits critical levels
The situation in Nonthaburi's Bang Bua Thong and Pak Kret districts was critical yesterday, as a massive volume of water suddenly flowed into the municipality area and markets, inundating hundreds of vehicles and causing residents to flee their homes.
Most of the six districts in the province were being hit by huge run-offs from provinces to the north such as Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani, said Nonthaburi Governor Wichian Phuttiwinyu.
“The problem is that we cannot estimate how much water will enter our area. We are familiar with the levels of the Chao Phraya River, but this time it’s very abnormal, as we don’t know when and where it will arrive,” he said.
The inundated area in Nonthaburi was expanding to Bang Yai and Bang Kruay districts yesterday.
Much of the province was turned from agricultural land into residential areas during the boom years of the real-estate business. Many areas, notably along the western bank of the Chao Phraya, have been connected by canals, resulting in a speedy flow of water.
Bang Bua Thong was in fact first hit last week, but the authorities built barricades to keep water from flowing into municipality areas and markets.
However, the sandbag barrier failed to prevent water breaking through yesterday and a massive volume flowed into the inner part of the district, notably the area near Wat Lahan and Bang Bua Thong Hospital. The hospital shut down its services and moved about 10 patients to other premises.
Residents fled their homes and about 300 vehicles were left under water.
As of yesterday, almost 100 per cent of Bang Bua Thong district was inundated, said Somchit Chandaen, former chief of the Tambon Bang Bua Thong Administration Organisation.
The deepest water was as high as 2.5 metres above ground, he said.
Flooding in Bang Bua Thong municipality affected traffic on Kanchanaphisek Highway, connecting to Suphan Buri province.
The Bang Bua Thong intersection was closed and motorists from Bangkok to Suphan Buri and other upper Central provinces were recommended to divert to the Nakhon Pathom-Bang Lane road.
Highway 435, which links Bang Bua Thong and Pathum Thani, and Ratchaphruek Highway were also closed because of excess water on the road surface.
The military provided transport for flood-affected people in the district yesterday.
Muang Nonthaburi police station was also hit, as water from the Chao Phraya River inundated the compound at 11am, said Pol Colonel Somsakchai Amornsongchareon, commander of the station.