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  1. #1
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    Bangkok Will Escape Flooding: Yingluck

    Bangkok Will Escape Flooding: Yingluck - Bloomberg

    Bangkok Will Escape Flooding: Yingluck

    By Suttinee Yuvejwattana and Supunnabul Suwannakij - Oct 14, 2011 7:42 AM GMT+0700


    Residents sit in a boat as they are evacuated from their homes during floods in Pathum Thani province, suburban Bangkok, Thailand. Photographer: Pornchai Kittiwongsakul/AFP/Gettty Images

    Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said Bangkok will be spared from floods that have killed almost 300 people and devastated areas north of the capital after defenses on the Chao Phraya river were bolstered.

    “Bangkok is safe,” Yingluck told reporters yesterday, after inspecting the city’s defenses by helicopter. “But we can only say that for the area within the flood barrier. For the area outside, they may still face floods.”

    The three-month-old disaster has crippled manufacturing hubs in central provinces and destroyed more than 10 percent of rice farms in the world’s biggest shipper of the grain. To save Bangkok from the same fate, Yingluck ordered the army to widen canals to drain water toward the Tha Cheen river west of the capital, relieving pressure on the swollen Chao Phraya.

    “I can start to smile today because we found another route to drain water,” Yingluck said, adding that it may take five days to widen canals that empty into the Tha Cheen.

    That may ease concerns for Bangkok’s 9.7 million residents, who have been hoarding rice, instant noodles and bottled water, and buying sandbags to protect their homes as floodwaters threatened to break through the city’s defenses.

    Water breached a flood barrier in Pathum Thani province near Thammasat University’s Rangsit campus, though won’t threaten the inner city, Pracha Promnog, head of the government’s flood center, said late yesterday.

    Industrial Estates

    While Bangkok may avoid widespread damage, floodwaters continue to threaten cities and industrial estates in provinces north of the capital.

    “The damage hasn’t stopped,” Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong said yesterday. “It has spread widely. The government and all agencies involved are working to limit damage to the manufacturing sector and the economy.”

    At least 289 people have been killed as monsoon rains and floods have swept across the country since July 25, according to data from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. About 26 of Thailand’s 77 provinces are still affected by floods, the agency said today on its website.

    Yingluck said about 200 soldiers are working to bolster defenses around the Hi-Tech Industrial Estate in Ayutthaya, a base for manufacturers including Hana Microelectronics Pcl (HANA), the country’s biggest semiconductor packager.

    Floodwaters have already swamped the neighboring Rojana Industrial Estate, crippling operations of Japanese manufacturers including Nikon Corp. and Pioneer Corp.

    A “huge amount of water” flowing from northern provinces and peak tides predicted from Oct. 14-17 and Oct. 28-31 will still test barriers defending Bangkok, the government’s flood center said on Oct. 12.

    Rising Costs

    Costs are likely to rise from an earlier estimate that indicated the disaster may pare economic growth by 0.6 percentage point to 0.9 percentage point, Kittiratt said.

    The damage bill may increase to 156.7 billion baht ($5.1 billion) and curb growth by 1.3 percentage points to 1.5 percentage points, the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce said yesterday.

    The university, a private institution established by the chamber, now expects the economy to grow by 3 percent to 3.5 percent this year. Consumer confidence declined to a four-month low in September, a separate report showed yesterday.

    “The central bank can help the economy by holding its key interest rate on Oct. 19,” Thanavath Phonvichai, an economist at the university, said today. “Consumer confidence is on a downtrend. If they can cut the key rate, that will help boost the economy next year.”

    Thailand’s gross domestic product rose 2.6 percent in the second quarter from a year earlier, the slowest pace since 2009. A faltering world recovery also poses a threat to expansion.
    "Slavery is the daughter of darkness; an ignorant people is the blind instrument of its own destruction; ambition and intrigue take advantage of the credulity and inexperience of men who have no political, economic or civil knowledge. They mistake pure illusion for reality, license for freedom, treason for patriotism, vengeance for justice."-Simón Bolívar

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    Bangkok Post : Next flood victims prepare for worst

    Next flood victims prepare for worst

    SPECIAL REPORT: The government has decided to drain floodwaters through the eastern and western sides of Bangkok, so many around the capital know trouble is heading their way

    A last-minute race against time has begun in areas surrounding Bangkok after the government resolved to drain water to the sea through the western and eastern sides of the city.


    Map provided by the flood centre shows the plan to keep inner Bangkok dry by diverting floodwaters around the capital.

    Rising sea levels predicted this weekend have fuelled fears of severe flooding, but residents have no choice but to prepare for the worst. Narong Ouiyaharn, 45, head of Moo 5 village in tambon Ban Bor in Muang district of Samut Sakhon, said local authorities had distributed 20-30 sandbags to each household in his village to cope with the arrival of floodwater, which is expected next Thursday.

    Tambon Ban Bor is one of the flood drainage areas for Bangkok and the central provinces.

    Sunak Hon Canal, a major canal linking the Tha Chin River with the Mae Klong River, will drain water from the Mae Klong into the sea, said Mr Narong. All residents are preparing or are prepared for flooding.

    "What worries us most is rising sea levels during the arrival of the floodwater. If this happens, the Maha Chai area will certainly be flooded. The situation will be worse than the big flood of 1995," Mr Narong said.

    In previous floods, the highest water levels usually experienced in Ban Bor were 50cm. However, the community can handle floods of up to 1m, he said.

    Panya Chorthongdee, 45, head of Moo1 village in tambon Ban Bor, said locals are keeping a close watch on the water levels in Bangkok. If there is a huge amount of water in the capital, his community will be badly hit, he said.

    However, if the area is inundated, the floodwater will eventually drain into the sea, he added.

    Kittipong Meesuk, 33, a Moo 1 villager, said his canalside house was knee-deep in flood water in 1995.

    Floods in the area depend on sea levels. To prepare for the latest inundation, he has put sandbags in front of his house.

    Mr Kittipong said he was not worried about water drainage from Bangkok.

    Meanwhile, Bangkok residents living near Rama IX and Ramkhamhaeng roads near the Saen Saeb canal have rushed to stockpile dried food, instant noodles and drinking water.

    Many vendors are worried that their livelihoods will be badly hit if floods ravage the area.

    Natthapong Thapolkhan, 35, a roadside coffee vendor at Soi 31 on Rama IX Road, said many street vendors would have no money to support their families and pay loans if floods arrived.

    In Bangkok's Rarm Intra area, residents of the Nives housing community were confident their community would be saved from the flooding.

    A retired government official living in the community said most residents were not worried about floods as there were canals to drain water.

    However, they were not complacent. Many were closely monitoring news about the flooding, he said.

    Bangkok MP Pollaphum Wipatphumprathet urged residents in Kannayao and Bung Kum districts not to panic about the flooding. Water levels in major canals were not high at the moment, he said.

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    http://www.google.org/crisismap?cris...land_floods_en

    Flood risk areas....Google map.



    Flood risk with "severely flooded areas, urgent help needed" (the blue points)


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    TAN_Network TAN News Network

    Royal Irrigation Dept chief assures BKK won't be flooded as water situation better than expected #ThaiFloodEng

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    Bangkok Post : PM moves to soothe flood panic

    PM moves to soothe flood panic

    Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra moved Friday to reassure Bangkok's 12 million residents over the looming flood crisis, after one of her ministers briefly sparked panic with an false-alarm evacuation warning.


    Residents walk through floodwater inundating a street in Pathum Thani province, suburban Bangkok. Thailand's premier moved Friday to reassure Bangkok's 12 million residents over a looming flood crisis, after one of her ministers briefly sparked panic with an evacuation warning.

    Science and Technology Minister Plodprasop Suraswadi rushed out of a flood briefing late Thursday to announce that several areas in Bangkok's northern suburbs were at risk of being submerged by up to one metre of water after a dyke gate burst.

    But the authorities quickly backtracked, causing confusion for residents who were already braced for floodwaters to reach the capital after causing havoc across northern and central Thailand.

    Ms Yingluck said Friday the situation was under control.

    "The water level is stable and not increasing. So I would like to ask people not to panic," she told reporters.

    "Minister Prodprasob wanted to update the people about the situation because he was concerned that they were anxious about it," Ms Yingluck explained.

    "So he just reported on the possibility of what might happen to the people, and nothing happened. Everything was normal."

    Unusually heavy monsoon rains have killed at least 289 people, destroyed crops, inundated hundreds of factories and damaged the homes and livelihoods of millions of people in Thailand, according to the government.

    About 110,000 people around the country have sought refuge in shelters.

    Currently 26 out of 77 provinces are affected, but conditions in inner Bangkok and at most of Thailand's top tourist destinations remain normal.

    The capital is, however, bracing for a large amount of run-off water to reach the city along with seasonal high tides that will make it harder for the flood waters to flow out to sea.

    Bangkok residents have thronged supermarkets in the capital to stock up on instant noodles and other non-perishable food, while flashlights have been flying off the shelves.

    Sandbags have been piled in front of homes and businesses in preparation for possible inundation, while some residents have opted to leave their vehicles in multi-storey carparks in the city to avoid possible flooding.

    Central Bangkok is protected by flood walls and the authorities have piled sandbags along the Chao Phraya River to try to keep water out of nearby areas, whose residents are no strangers to seasonal floods.

    The authorities have said they will dredge and drain canals in the capital to allow more water to flow through.

    The floods have dealt a heavy blow to Thailand's economy, leaving hundreds of factories under water.

    Japanese automakers including Toyota have suspended production in the kingdom due to water damage to facilities or disruption to parts supplies.

    The ancient city of Ayutthaya, about 80 kilometres upriver of Bangkok, has been badly affected and the UN cultural organisation Unesco said it would send a team to the World Heritage site to assess the impact.

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    Biz_TheNation Biz_TheNation

    Pornthep urged all BKK residents not to be panic, following hoarding of consumer products driven by social media frenzy

    BKK deputy governor: water level below flood barriers. Possible overflows, but they are monitored by 5000 men

    Flood centre (FROC): BKK suburbs - pathum thani, nonthaburi, chachoengsao - will be affected, though to save the capital.

    BKK is safe, as water level in Chao Phraya will be only 2.3-2.4m on Oct 15, the dept announced.

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    TAN_Network TAN News Network

    Justice Minister Pracha, as head of Flood Operation Center, says he will take charge of press conferences by himself; assures BKK spared

    Defence Minister Yutthasak says military ready for evacuation via helicopter and military hospitals will take in flood victims

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    Trisdee Trisdee na Patalung

    Live: Sukhumvit soi 33. 12:35 pm. Getting flooded: twitpic.com/70057u



    (this is localised flooding due to a huge thunderstorm going on right now I presume...not runoff from the floods elsewhere)

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    tulsathit tulsathit

    TR [at]Kom_chad_luek: Chao Phya levels (in Bkk) have surpassed last year's records.

    RT [at]Neaw_NBC: Bkk governor: I'll tell you by myself which area is under threat. #ThaiPBS

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    Flood Relief Operations Centre head assures city residents Bangkok safe from flooding

    Flood Relief Operations Centre head assures city residents Bangkok safe from flooding

    วันศุกร์ ที่ 14 ต.ค. 2554

    Flood Relief Operations Centre head Pracha Promnog assures city residents Bangkok safe from flooding, levee strengthening at Rapeepat canal to finish in 2 days

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    Bangkok rushes to dig canals to prevent flooding | Asian Correspondent



    Bangkok rushes to dig canals to prevent flooding


    By AP News Oct 14, 2011 12:44PM UTC


    BANGKOK (AP) — Soldiers, public works crews and volunteers raced to repair a key barrier protecting Bangkok’s northern suburbs from approaching waters Friday, part of a desperate bid to defend Thailand’s capital from the country’s worst floods in decades.

    Repair work to the Khlong Ban Phrao Floodgate was being expedited and area residents were asked to remain on alert for flooding. Gov. Peerasak Hinmuangkao of Pathum Thani province, just north of Bangkok, said the gate would be repaired by the end of the day.

    Erroneous reports Thursday said that flood waters had broken through the gate, leading the government to order residents to urgently evacuate. The Flood Relief Center later apologized for the “misinformation,” saying the evacuation order had been reversed and that damage to the gate had been overestimated.

    At least 283 people have been killed in Thailand since late July by floods and mudslides that have devastated rice crops and shut dozens of factories.

    Bangkok has been mostly spared so far, but some surrounding areas have been inundated and authorities fear that flood waters rushing from the north will combine with rains and high tides in the next few days to flood the city.

    Buildings in many areas of the capital have stockpiled sandbags, while others have built protective walls from cement and cinderblocks.

    Government spokesman Wim Rungwattanajinda said the main canals east and west of Bangkok will be dredged by Friday to allow more water to flow from flooded northern provinces. He said authorities are also digging canal shortcuts to help drive water to the sea.

    “This is the best method at the moment” to protect Bangkok, Wim told The Associated Press. “We are all working against time.”

    Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said the operations will allow the water to exit through three major rivers instead of just one — the Chao Phraya River which flows through Bangkok — as the government initially planned, and will therefore relieve the impact on the capital.

    Some 8.2 million people in 61 out of the country’s 77 provinces have been affected by the flooding, which has also halted production at many major factories north of Bangkok. Nervous residents have been stocking up on bottled water, rice, instant noodles, medicine and other essentials.

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    Thai PM confident Bangkok will escape worst of floods | Reuters

    Thai PM confident Bangkok will escape worst of floods



    By Panarat Thepgumpanat
    BANGKOK | Fri Oct 14, 2011 12:27am EDT

    (Reuters) - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra tried to reassure residents of Bangkok on Friday that the capital should largely escape the flooding that has devastated a third of the country since July, as work to strengthen its defences continued.

    The north, northeast and central plains of Thailand have been worst hit and Bangkok -- much of it only two meters (6.5 ft) above sea level -- is now in danger as water overflows from reservoirs in the north, swelling the Chao Phraya river.

    At least 289 people have been killed around the country by heavy monsoon rain, floods and mudslides since late July.

    "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. But inner Bangkok has extremely high defences," Yingluck told reporters.

    "In conclusion, Bangkok should still be considered safe," she said.

    Run-off water from the north will arrive in the Bangkok area at 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.

    "During October 15 to 18, it 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," Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra told reporters.

    He said the level of the Chao Phraya river could rise to 2.20 meters from 2.13 meters over the next few days and some riverside communities should think of evacuating.

    Embankment walls along the river in much of inner Bangkok are 2.50 meters or higher.

    Despite the reassurances, residents have stocked up on bottled water and foodstuffs such as instant noodles.

    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 facilities.

    In comparison, the central region, which has been badly flooded, causing several huge industrial estates to close, accounts for 8 percent of GDP. The eastern region, with its international car plants and refineries, accounts for 16 percent but has barely been affected by the flooding.

    FALSE ALARM

    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.

    Kittirat Na Ranong, deputy prime minister in charge of the economy, told reporters on Thursday that the flood damage was estimated at more than 100 billion baht ($3.2 billion), over 1 percent of GDP, and could get worse.

    He broke into tears as he spoke with workers at the flooded Hi-Tech Industrial Estate in Ayutthaya province.

    At least three big industrial estates in the province have shut temporarily. A Nikon Corp digital SLR factory and a Honda Motor Co Ltd assembly plant have closed.

    Consumer confidence fell in September because of the floods and could plunge in October, according to economists at the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce.

    Last week, the university cut its forecast for GDP growth this year to 3.6 percent from 4.4 percent but it cut it again on Thursday to 3.0-3.5 percent.

    The Finance Ministry has cut its growth forecast to 3.7 percent from 4.0 percent.

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    Bangkok Post : Pracha: Bangkok won

    Pracha: Bangkok won’t be flooded

    Bangkok will not be affected by the widespread flooding, Deputy Prime Minister and director of the Flood Relief Operation Centre Pracha Promnok said at a press conference on Friday.

    The government’s flood war room has given the highest priority to the protection of inner areas of the capital. It is working hard to drive the overflow out to the sea through the Chao Phraya River, cannels in the western and eastern parts of Bangkok, Pol Gen Pracha said.

    “The runoff from the North is now under control and Bangkok will not be inundated”, the justice minister reaffirmed.

    Chalit Damrongsak, director general of the Royal Irrigation Department, took the same tone.

    He insisted that Bangkok will not be severely flooded because the amount of water running down from the North into the Chao Phraya River in Nakhon Sawan and Chainat was lesser than earlier projected.

    The flow was only 3,600 cubic metres per second, lower than earlier expected at 3,800 cubic metres. Moreover, several dams have now released lesser amount of water than before, he added.

    “The level of the flow in Chao Phraya which will arrive in Bangkok on October 15-16 would not be higher than 2.3 to 2.4 metres. But the floodwalls in Bangkok is 2.5 metres high, therefore, Bangkok is safe”, said Mr Chalit.

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    Okay, so everyone now says Bangkok wont flood...so emergency over, crisis averted. Nothing to see here, on your way....

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    ^ the more they say won't, the more worrying it becomes...

    They just don't know; the tides, the release of water from the reservoirs, the lack of proven experience of water routes, new canals, broken gates and walls, last but not least, rainfall. It is clear that the 'system' is at or very close to breaking point, and it's likely to be more luck than judgment at this point just how bad the flooding will be.

    One very big downpour, a problem with one main water diversion route, floodwater changing course or some kind of 'suckback' effects, any of these could be the catalyst for massive flooding throughout most of Bangkok over the next few days...
    Cycling should be banned!!!

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    TAN_Network TAN News Network

    MRT closes off some exits as flood prevention; if roads submerged under 50cm of water, MRT will have to suspend services #ThaiFloodEng

    -----
    Bangkok Post : Pakkret water level reported stable

    Pakkret water level reported stable
    The Chao Phraya water level in Pakkret Municipality is stable, within about one centimetre difference from yesterday's noon level as measured against the marker, an eyewitness told the Post.

    Yesterday's official report stated that the Chao Phraya river level in Bangkok was about 2.08 metres. Bangkok's flood wall is 2.50 metres.

    So the water level at Pakkret, North of Nonthaburi, should provide some comfort that today and tomorrow will not see any significant rise in the water level in Bangkok from the run-off from the North, reports said.

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    Tulip_Oum 25 mins 18 secs ago
    Twitter
    MRT's station exits to be closed for installing water barrier at 2:30pm, here's the list. yfrog.com/h8wo9pp



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    Overflowing Chao Phraya reaches record high

    Overflowing Chao Phraya reaches record high

    October 14, 2011 2:03 am

    The water level at Chao Phraya River on Friday rose to 2.13 meters, breaking the last year's record high of 2.10 meters, Bangkok Drainage Office said.

    The water flow at Ayutthaya's Bang Sai was at 4,250 cubic meters per second. The safety flow for Bangkok is at 3,500 cubic meters per second.

    Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Baripatra said the capital had not plunged into a flood crisis as speculated.

    The Nation

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    TAN_Network TAN News Network

    Lower Central, East, BKK to face heavy rain on Sun-Mon; army speed up construction of canal in eastern BKK #ThaiFloodEng

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    HarveyBKK Rachel Harvey

    Woman living near pathum Thani bridge says running out of food and no help from authorities. Water in area chest deep #ThaiFloodEng

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    Flood prevention measures in Bangkadi Industrial Park, Pathum Thani



    ASEAN Newsroom report

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    Having possibly the storm of the year in Bangkok right now. My street is flooded to a depth of 8 inches plus....not good.

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    Quote Originally Posted by StrontiumDog
    Having possibly the storm of the year in Bangkok right now. My street is flooded to a depth of 8 inches plus....not good.
    Yes, I'm glad they've built all those nice flood walls to keep the water *in* Bangkok, thus protecting those of us who live just outside.

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    Bangkok Post : PM Yingluck: Floods now under control

    PM Yingluck: Floods now under control

    The floods threatening Bangkok are now under control and water levels are starfting to fall, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said on Friday.


    Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra

    Ms Yingluck said that important economic locations had to be protected but her government would not forget ordinary flood victims. She sought cooperation from the people who protested against the closure of a water gate on the Rangsit Khlong 1 canal in Pathum Thani province, saying the government had to complete floodwalls to contain the damage.

    After inspecting flood prevention in tambon Lak Hok in Pathum Thani, Ms Yingluck said floodwalls there were important because it would affect the amount of water in Khlong Prem Prachakorn and Khlong Prapa in Bangkok.

    She gave an assurance the government's Flood Relief Operation Centre (FROC) and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) were trying their best to protect Bangkok from floods.

    Justice Minister and FROC director Pracha Promnok said the floodwater was 50 centimetres below the top of the dykes in Lak Hok area. He had ordered them increased in height by 50 centimetres.

    Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said flood prevention measures in Lak Hok were strong. He explained that there were two lines of floodwalls there -- one line of sandbags and a soil dyke. It had been made as strong as possible, he said.

    Lt Gen Yodyuth Boonyathikan, chief of the Army Air Defence Command who is responsible for flood prevention in Lak Hok, said the sandbag dyke was 1.50 metres high and the soil wall stood behind it. If the flood prevention line collapses, the floodwater would enter Khlong Prem Prachakorn and Rangsit canals.

    Currently, the level of Rangsit canal was 2.5 metres higher than Khlong Prem Prachakorn canal, Lt Gen Yodyuth said.

    Pathum Thani governor Peerasak Hinmuangkao said repairs to the Ban Phrao water gate would be completed by 6pm today.

    Earlier today, FROC chief Pracha said Bangkok city would not be affected by the widespread flooding.

    The government's flood war room had given the highest priority to the protection of inner areas of the capital. It was working hard to drive the overflow out to the sea through the Chao Phraya River and canals in the western and eastern parts of Bangkok, Pol Gen Pracha said.

    "The runoff from the North is now under control and Bangkok will not be inundated," the minister reaffirmed.

    Royal Irrigation Department director-general Chalit Damrongsak took the same tone.

    He said Bangkok will not be severely flooded because the amount of water running down from the North into the Chao Phraya river in Nakhon Sawan and Chai Nat was below earlier projections.

    The flow was only 3,600 cubic metres per second, lower than earlier expected 3,800 cubic metres. Moreover, several dams have now reduced the amount of water being released, he said.

    "The level of the flow in Chao Phraya which will arrive in Bangkok on Oct 15 to 16 will not be higher than 2.3 to 2.4 metres. The floodwalls in Bangkok are 2.5 metres high, therefore, Bangkok is safe," said Mr Chalit.

    Drainage and Sewarage department chief Sanya Cheenimit said the water level of the Chao Phraya river in Bangkok was 2.13 metres above its normal level this morning, breaking last year's record at 2.10 metres.


    Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra

    The amount of water in the Chao Phraya river flowing past Ayutthaya's Bang Sai's district was measured at 4,250 cubic metres per second. The rate had increased but the situation remained under control, Mr Sanya said.

    Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand said evacuation plans must be prepared for 27 communities in flood risk areas and authorities cannot be at ease because of the rising water level.

    "I've instructed district chiefs to warn people in 27 communities along the flood barricades to get ready to evacuate for their own safety. If the water level rises above 2.30 metres, people might not be able to stay in their homes and they must evacuate immediately," MR Sukhumbhand said.

    People should stay alert from Oct 15 to 18 because there would be high tides, he said.

    BMA executives will meet every six hours - 8am, 2pm, 9pm and 2am - to assess the flood situation on a daily basis, he said.

    The governor called on district chiefs to reconsider the plan to allow people to park their cars on expressways, as other people might need to use them during an emergency.

    Each district would have to find proper places for people to take refuge and store their belongings, he said.

    Asked about the science minister's premature flood evacuation alert on Thursday night, M.R Sukhumbhand said only that such announcements could lead to confusion.

    "I would like the people to closely follow the situation as reported by the BMA. If an evacuation is necessary, I'll be the one to announce it," the Democrat Party core member said.

    "I ask the BMA executives and district chiefs not to be panic or be disturbed by the situation. We must be determined to solve the problem using our leadership skills because the country right now has a leadership vacuum. The BMA must be the main pillar for the people."

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    Bangkok Post : Yingluck: Centre, BMA not in conflict

    Yingluck: Centre, BMA not in conflict

    Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said that the government's flood relief operation centre works well with BMA, and there is no conflict, while inspecting flood gates/dykes in Pathum Thani.

    BMA governor requested the centre to send forces to protect water gates and sandbag dykes, reiterating that run-off water would not flow into inner Bangkok.

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