Bangkok strengthens defenses as floods close in

Workers protect their factory in the event of more flooding in Pathum Thani province, on the outskirts of Bangkok October 12, 2011. Thailand's prime minister warned businesses on Wednesday not to take advantage of flooding around the country to push up prices as residents of Bangkok cleared supermarket shelves, worried that the capital could be swamped in coming days. At least 281 people have been killed by heavy monsoon rain, floods and mudslides since late July and 26 of Thailand's 77 provinces are inundated, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. Credit: Reuters/Chaiwat Subprasom

Thu Oct 13, 2011
By Panarat Thepgumpanat

BANGKOK (Reuters) - City workers and soldiers raced to finish defensive walls around inner Bangkok on Thursday as floodwater that has covered about a third of Thailand threatened the capital.

After a meeting with ministers, army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha told reporters that flood barriers in three vulnerable locations had almost been completed.

"We talked about evacuation plans to help people living near the Chao Phraya river. If there's an emergency, we're ready to act," he said.

"The worry now is that from today until October 19 there will be a high tide and the important thing is to push water out to the sea as fast as possible."

At least 283 people have been killed around Thailand by heavy monsoon rain, floods and mudslides since late July and 26 of its 77 provinces are inundated, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

The north, northeast and central plains have been badly affected and Bangkok -- which is only two meters (6.5 ft) above sea level -- is in danger as water overflows from reservoirs in the north, swelling the Chao Phraya river.

Some outer areas of greater Bangkok have already flooded but the authorities hope the center will be saved by existing defensive structures plus three new walls, which will help channel water to the east and west of the city into the sea.

Run-off water from the north will arrive in the Bangkok area at the weekend at the same time as high tides. This may also coincide with storms and heavy rain.

Sanya Cheenimit, director of Bangkok's drainage and sewerage department, reported flooding in three eastern districts of Bangkok that were mainly farm areas.

"I want to reassure you that the flood situation in Bangkok is still under control," he told Reuters. "All the 50 districts of Bangkok have readied evacuation plans ... But for now, there's still no sign that we need to move people out."

Despite the reassurances, residents have cleared shops of bottled water and foodstuffs such as instant noodles.

RELIEF EFFORT

More than 2 million people are estimated to have been affected by floods around the country and essential goods are in short supply in some areas because of disruption to road and rail traffic, with some main roads to the north cut off.

Hundreds of volunteers gathered on Thursday at the government's flood crisis center at Bangkok's old Don Muang airport, loading donated water, food and medicines on to trucks to be distributed to the worst-hit areas outside the capital.

In Bangkok, the authorities are most concerned about 27 communities with 1,200 households along the river.

"We are worried about all the areas near the Chao Phraya river," army chief Prayuth said.

"We've asked people not to break the flood barriers because it may cause water to overflow into Bangkok," he added.

Some residents of flooded outer areas have vented their anger at the temporary walls put up to protect the capital.

The governor of the neighboring province of Pathum Thani called on Wednesday for a state of emergency to be declared to give the security forces power to stop such acts, but Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra ruled that was not necessary.

Kittirat Na Ranong, deputy prime minister in charge of the economy, said the damage caused by flooding could go higher than the 0.6-0.9 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) forecast by the government.

The Finance Ministry has cut its economic growth forecast for this year to 3.7 percent from 4.0 percent.

The province of Ayutthaya to the north of Bangkok has been badly hit and at least three big industrial estates there have closed temporarily. A Nikon Corp digital SLR factory and a Honda Motor Co Ltd assembly plant have closed.

Consumer confidence fell for a second month in September because of the floods, according to a survey on Thursday.

(Additional reporting by Pracha Hariraksapitak, Viparat Jantraprap and Jutarat Skulpichetrat; Writing by Alan Raybould; Editing by Robert Birsel)