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Thailand shores up capital as waters creep higher
Source: Agencies |
October 23, 2011, Sunday
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THAILAND'S capital was braced for possible flooding today as water levels rose in some of Bangkok's northern suburbs and troops raced to fortify defense walls to protect two key industrial zones.
Measures to divert floodwater from the north around the city and into the Gulf of Thailand appeared to be working but the possibility of heavy rainfall into canals already full to the brim left much of the city uneasy.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said authorities were doing everything possible to drive the water out and help those most in need.
"The water is coming from different places and headed in the same direction. We're trying to build walls, there will be some impact on Bangkok, but we don't know the extent of that," Yingluck told reporters.
Thailand's worst flooding in half a century has affected a third of the country and has been bearing down on Bangkok since early last week, despite initial assurances that the capital would escape the floods.
Twenty-eight of provinces and 2.46 million people are affected, with water covering an area the size of Kuwait.
A total of 356 people have been killed since July 25 and at least 113,000 have moved to more than 1,700 makeshift shelters. The labor ministry estimates about 650,000 industrial workers do not have an income.
Water covered some northern Bangkok suburbs on Sunday after spilling out of the Prapa canal. Residents around the densely populated Don Muang area, where one airport is located, were seen boarding trucks for evacuation and many homes were flooded, with water levels at two meters in some parts.
An estimated 1,200 people living in shanty towns along the banks of the swelling Chao Phraya River were advised to leave on Saturday, while cars were moved to higher ground and residents searched for bottled water or sandbags.
Measures to divert floodwater from the north around the city and into the Gulf of Thailand appeared to be working but the possibility of heavy rainfall into canals already full to the brim left much of the city uneasy.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said authorities were doing everything possible to drive the water out and help those most in need.
"The water is coming from different places and headed in the same direction. We're trying to build walls, there will be some impact on Bangkok, but we don't know the extent of that," Yingluck told reporters.
Thailand's worst flooding in half a century has affected a third of the country and has been bearing down on Bangkok since early last week, despite initial assurances that the capital would escape the floods.
Twenty-eight of provinces and 2.46 million people are affected, with water covering an area the size of Kuwait.
A total of 356 people have been killed since July 25 and at least 113,000 have moved to more than 1,700 makeshift shelters. The labor ministry estimates about 650,000 industrial workers do not have an income.
Water covered some northern Bangkok suburbs on Sunday after spilling out of the Prapa canal. Residents around the densely populated Don Muang area, where one airport is located, were seen boarding trucks for evacuation and many homes were flooded, with water levels at two meters in some parts.
An estimated 1,200 people living in shanty towns along the banks of the swelling Chao Phraya River were advised to leave on Saturday, while cars were moved to higher ground and residents searched for bottled water or sandbags.
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