Bangkok safe from flood, says Thai PM
Source: Agencies |
October 15, 2011, Saturday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
THAI Prime Minister Ying-luck Shinawatra tried to reassure Bangkok residents yesterday that the capital will largely escape the flooding that has covered a third of the country since July and caused damage of more than US$3 billion.
The north, northeast and center of Thailand have been worst hit and Bangkok - much of it only two meters above sea level - is threatened as water overflows from reservoirs in the north, swelling the Chao Phraya river.
Yingluck said: "Bangkok may face some problems in areas that are on the outer sides of the irrigation dikes, but water levels will not be too high. Inner Bangkok has extremely high defenses. Bangkok should still be considered safe."
At least 289 people have been killed around the country by heavy monsoon rain, floods and mudslides since late July.
The governor of the Bank of Thailand, Prasarn Trairatvorakul, said: "We did not think the flooding would be this severe. This time the industrial sector has also been affected."
Kittirat Na Ranong, deputy prime minister in charge of the economy, put the damage at US$3.2 billion - more than 1 percent of gross domestic product. The Finance Ministry has cut its growth forecast for this year to 3.7 percent from 4 percent.
Floodwaters from the north will arrive in Bangkok over the weekend at the same time as high estuary tides hamper the river's flow into the sea. This may also coincide with storms and heavy rain.
Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said: "October 15 to 18 may be a dangerous time because water from the north will be coming in, but I confirm it has not reached a crisis stage as of this moment."
Chalit Damrongsak, director general of the Royal Irrigation Department, said the flows from the north into the Chao Phraya river were lower than expected.
"The water levels that are going to enter Bangkok on October 15 to 16 will most likely be only 2.3 to 2.4 meters. This will not surpass Bangkok's irrigation dike levels of 2.5 metres," he said. "Bangkok is going to be spared from the flood."
Despite such assurances, residents have stocked up on bottled water and food such as instant noodles.
Late on Thursday, residents in an area covering a northern Bangkok suburb received a warning to evacuate from the government's crisis control center after a sluice gate had supposedly burst, but it turned out to be a false alarm.
The central bank has advised the finance sector to take precautions and told commercial banks to make sure they have enough cash. It said 104 bank branches had closed because of flooding, mainly in the central region.
Bangkok accounts for 41 percent of the economy and contains some heavy industry, as well as extensive service, banking and tourist sectors.
In comparison, the central region, which has been badly flooded, accounts for 8 percent of GDP.
The north, northeast and center of Thailand have been worst hit and Bangkok - much of it only two meters above sea level - is threatened as water overflows from reservoirs in the north, swelling the Chao Phraya river.
Yingluck said: "Bangkok may face some problems in areas that are on the outer sides of the irrigation dikes, but water levels will not be too high. Inner Bangkok has extremely high defenses. Bangkok should still be considered safe."
At least 289 people have been killed around the country by heavy monsoon rain, floods and mudslides since late July.
The governor of the Bank of Thailand, Prasarn Trairatvorakul, said: "We did not think the flooding would be this severe. This time the industrial sector has also been affected."
Kittirat Na Ranong, deputy prime minister in charge of the economy, put the damage at US$3.2 billion - more than 1 percent of gross domestic product. The Finance Ministry has cut its growth forecast for this year to 3.7 percent from 4 percent.
Floodwaters from the north will arrive in Bangkok over the weekend at the same time as high estuary tides hamper the river's flow into the sea. This may also coincide with storms and heavy rain.
Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said: "October 15 to 18 may be a dangerous time because water from the north will be coming in, but I confirm it has not reached a crisis stage as of this moment."
Chalit Damrongsak, director general of the Royal Irrigation Department, said the flows from the north into the Chao Phraya river were lower than expected.
"The water levels that are going to enter Bangkok on October 15 to 16 will most likely be only 2.3 to 2.4 meters. This will not surpass Bangkok's irrigation dike levels of 2.5 metres," he said. "Bangkok is going to be spared from the flood."
Despite such assurances, residents have stocked up on bottled water and food such as instant noodles.
Late on Thursday, residents in an area covering a northern Bangkok suburb received a warning to evacuate from the government's crisis control center after a sluice gate had supposedly burst, but it turned out to be a false alarm.
The central bank has advised the finance sector to take precautions and told commercial banks to make sure they have enough cash. It said 104 bank branches had closed because of flooding, mainly in the central region.
Bangkok accounts for 41 percent of the economy and contains some heavy industry, as well as extensive service, banking and tourist sectors.
In comparison, the central region, which has been badly flooded, accounts for 8 percent of GDP.
- About Us
- |
- Terms of Use
- |
-
RSS - |
- Privacy Policy
- |
- Contact Us
- |
- Shanghai Call Center: 962288
- |
- Tip-off hotline: 52920043
- 沪ICP证：沪ICP备05050403号-1
- |
- 互联网新闻信息服务许可证：31120180004
- |
- 网络视听许可证：0909346
- |
- 广播电视节目制作许可证：沪字第354号
- |
- 增值电信业务经营许可证：沪B2-20120012
Copyright © 1999- Shanghai Daily. All rights reserved.Preferably viewed with Internet Explorer 8 or newer browsers.
