Flooding Situation in Bangkok Is Improving

(14/11/2011)

The flooding situation in Bangkok is improving in both eastern and western parts of the city. Bangkok Governor, M. R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra, has meanwhile issued an evacuation advisory for some communities in Bang Khun Thian district, to the southwest. The announcement on the evacuation advisory came on November 13, as the flooding is threatening Rama II Road. Residents in the communities were urged to move their valuable possessions to higher ground and evacuate to safe places, or to temporary shelters established by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration. Justice Minister Police General Pracha Promnog, in his capacity as Director of the Flood Relief Operations Center, said that, in the overall picture, the center was confident that it would be able to slow down the flow of water in the northern part of the city into Vabhavadi Rangsit and Phahonyothin roads. As for the demand by some people to remove the “Big Bag” floodwall in northern Bangkok, he said that negotiations must be made to show them the necessity of tackling the flood problem, based on the interests of the majority. The pumping of water from the affected areas is also being accelerated. Speaking during his inspection of some flooded areas, the Bangkok Governor believed that if there was no more runoff, the water level in the city would subside within two weeks. All roads and lanes would be dry in time for the celebration of the New Year. As for the situation on Rama II Road, he said that, for the time being, the situation was manageable. Even so, an assessment would be made on a continual basis. The Bangkok Governor also called on the public to cooperate with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, which is working closely with the Flood Relief Operations Center in handling the flooding situation in the city. The Director-General of the Department of Labor Protection and Welfare, Mr. Athit Issamo, revealed that 28,533 workplaces, with more than one million workers, in 21 provinces have been suffering from the flooding. Out of these workplaces, 5,387 have resumed their operations, and more than 116,000 workers have returned to work. Because of effective flood control, the Bang Chan and Lat Krabang industrial estates in eastern Bangkok are unlikely to be hit by floods. There are 79 factories, with 13,800 workers, in the Bang Chan Industrial Estate. As for the Lat Krabang Industrial Estate, there are 203 factories, with some 46,400 workers. Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said that a strategy for reconstruction and development was being set up to pursue a comprehensive relief and recovery plan and package. This package consists of various measures for flood relief, including exemptions of duties and tariffs on equipment imported to replace damaged facilities.