Thai flood diversion a small victory

Last Updated: Fri, 21 Oct 2011 17:01:00 +1100

Thai officials are claiming that flood diversion efforts in Bangkok have been successful.

But residents in certain areas of the capital are still being warned to move to higher ground as the government's grapples with the encroaching floodwater.

The government has opened some of Bangkok's canals in an effort to hold redirect the mass of water.

But these efforts could inundate some districts whilst relieving the pressure on dikes.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is resisting calls to invoke a state of emergency.

"Water pumps will help pump out water and city officials will clear waterways of hyacinth plants," Yingluck Shinawatra said at an emergency meeting..

Staying dry

Inner Bangkok has so far escaped major flooding as the authorities divert water to areas outside the main capital in a bid to prevent the Chao Phraya River bursting its banks and flooding the political and economic heartland.

But a massive volume of run-off water is expected to reach the city by the weekend, putting a huge strain on Bangkok's flood defences and a heavy burden on people in severely affected areas just outside the capital.

Bangkok has an extensive drainage system including 200 floodgates, 158 pump stations, seven giant underground tunnels, and 1,682 canals covering 2,604 kilometres, according to city authorities.

Three months of heavy monsoon rains have killed 320 people, damaged the homes and livelihoods of millions of people, mostly in the north and central Thailand, and forced tens of thousands to seek refuge in shelters.

Floodgates

Ms Shinawatra made the comments after visiting the site of a breached canal wall on the outskirts of Bangkok and warned that serious flooding in parts of Bangkok is inevitable.

She said it would be impossible to block the water forever and the government would choose which parts of the city to allow the water through to minimise the impact.

"The longer we block the water, the higher it gets," she said.

"We need areas that water can be drained through so the water can flow out to the sea."

Authorities had already issued flood alerts to seven communities on Bangkok's north eastern side due to water flowing in.

Now those around the new breach have been warned to prepare, though workers are repairing the leak.

Bangkok's governor has warned that water is moving towards the capital more quickly than expected and will hit major canals in the north and north-east of the city on Thursday night.

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