App provides up-to-date info on flooding

People can monitor the country’s water situation via Water4thai, a new application for iPad or iPhone.
Created by the Office of National Water and Flood Management Policy, the application even offers live footage from video cameras installed at key waterways for a closed-circuit television system.
It also provides updated details on weather conditions, areas hit by heavy rainfall, and water levels in dams and reservoirs.
The office’s acting secretary, Supoj Towichukchaikul, who is deputy permanent secretary at the National Resources and Environment Ministry, showed reporters how to use the app, or application, yesterday.
“As of now, Sirikit and Bhumibol dams can take in 9,358.98 million cubic metres more water,” he pointed out. He voiced confidence that there would be no flood crisis like last year.
Supoj blamed clogged sewerage pipes for ongoing flooding in many areas of Bangkok.
As of press time, minor flooding swamped several areas of the capital including Sri Ayutthaya intersection, Rajvithee Road, Vibhavadi Road, Chaeng Wattana Road, Srinakarin Road as well as the Lat Phrao intersection. Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra said that in the face of downpours, it would take time to drain all the rainwater.
Asked about the establishment of the Water Situation Monitoring and Analysis Centre, or the so-called mini-Flood Relief Operation Centre (Froc), Supoj said it sprang into operation to monitor the national water situation around the clock and would release updated information every morning.
Agencies such as the Royal Irrigation and Meterological Departments, and the Army, have dispatched representatives to work at the centre.
In Sukhothai, flooding has affected more than 10,000 people in five districts and ravaged more than 20,000 rai of farmland. However, the situation was nearly back to normal in the economic heart of the province.
“We will implement rehabilitation fast,” Sukhothai Governor Jakkarin Plianwong said.
In Phichit, four districts were declared disaster zones in the wake of rising floodwater. Over 20 roads in the province were swamped and one bridge damaged.
In the border province of Sa Kaeo, six districts were struggling with inundation too. Thousands of families in Aranyaprathet saw water soar to between 50cm and 1.2 metres high.
Even the famous border market, Rong Kluea, faced flooding.
“This market is very important to Sa Kaeo’s economy,” provincial Governor Sanit Naksooktri lamented as relevant officials were busy helping vendors move their belongings to higher ground.