Bangkok's 247 flood-prone areas prepare, Ayutthaya, hit hard 7 Oct 2016 at 09:23

Residents move their belongings out of a house which subsided after the burst its banks and flooded Soi Wat Saengrim in of . The house threatens to pull down two nearby homes. PATTARAPONG CHATPATTARASILL

Plans are afoot to relieve the effects of flooding particularly in 247 areas identified by City Hall as being highly prone to floods. Flooding has worsened in Ayutthaya and Nakhon Ratchasima

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City Hall identifies 247 'high-risk' flood areas

Post reporters

Almost 250 areas in are particularly vulnerable to flooding, according to City Hall as it deploys manpower and equipment to mitigate future inundations.

Plans are afoot to relieve the effects of flooding particularly in 247 areas identified by City Hall as being highly prone to floods. Deputy Bangkok governor Phussadee Tamthai said water hyacinths will be removed from waterways to prevent them impeding water drainage.

Garbage collection rounds will be also be stepped up to stop garbage from falling into and clogging water drainage pipes, she said.

Ms Phussadee said the flood-prone areas include 30 in central Bangkok with concerns centred around Chao Phraya River communities including areas in Song Wad Road.

Some 48 areas north of the city prone to flooding include Ngam Wong Wan Road and Phahon Yothin Road, Chaeng Watthana Road and the Bang Khen roundabout, according to Ms Phussadee.

In southern Bangkok, 34 flood danger spots include Soi Bearing and Soi Lasalle while in eastern Bangkok, 91 areas are under threat, such as the Nak Kila housing estate, Faifa intersection and Romklao Road.

In the northern Krung Thon zone, 13 areas pose a flood risk, including the Buranawas community, Soi Panit Thon 9 and Charan Sanitwong Soi 12.

The southern Krung Thon zone has 31 flood-prone locations, such as Bang Khun Thian Chai Thalay Road, Pracha Uthit sois 88-91, Phetkasem Soi 31/1 and Ekkachai sois 52-54.

A villager performs a wai to thank Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha before he receives a flood relief bag from the premier during his visit to Ban Phaen in Ayutthaya’s Sena district yesterday. SEKSAN ROJJANAMETAKUN

Meanwhile, floods have continued to cause misery in Ayutthaya where the water level is rising once again after the Chao Phraya dam began releasing more water downstream, lifting the discharge rate to 1,950 cubic metres per second.

The flood situation in the province eased late last month after the dam reduced the volume of discharged water to around 1,600 cubic metres from nearly 2,000 cubic metres per second, Udomsak Khaonuna, chief of the provincial disaster prevention and mitigation office, said.

But with more water flowing downriver after heavy rain in the North put more pressure on the dam, riverside communities in six districts – Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Bang Pa-in, Bang Sai, Sena, Phak Hai and Bang Pahan – are now inundated by water up to 1.50 metres deep. About 470 villages in 81 in the six districts have been inundated.

People help direct traffic on flooded Mitraphap Road where many vehicles were left stranded in tambon Lat Bua Khao of Si Khiu district yesterday. PRASIT TANGPRASERT

In Nakhon Ratchasima, provincial governor Vichian Chantharanothai said the flood situation is causing concern in many areas, particularly in Si Khiu district where a 500-metre stretch of Mitraphap Road from the weighing station to the CP factory in tambon Lat Bua Khao was reportedly under 30-60cm of water and is impassable to cars and pickup trucks.

Mr Vichian said water run-off in some cases was triggered by overflowing natural water sources, which was impossible to prevent. Officials were having to deal with problems as they arose.

However, the rain has replenished major reservoirs such as the Lamtakong and the Lam Chiangkrai.

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