Focus on drainage
The government in now focusing on draining rather blocking the flood waters and has asked for cooperation from Bangkok City Hall to use is canals.
The government in now focusing on draining rather blocking the flood waters and has asked for cooperation from Bangkok City Hall to use is canals.
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Bangkok districts told to brace
City Hall agrees to open up canals for drainage
POST REPORTERS
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has agreed to help drain northern runoff into the sea through the city's canals as parts of Don Muang and Laksi districts were declared flood-risk zones yesterday.
Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra last night issued a flood warning to residents in Thung Si Kan and Don Muang subdistricts in Don Muang district and Thung Song Hong subdistrict in Laksi district.
It is the second warning from the governor in addition to the first order made on Wednesday to seven other districts, but the previous warning was for people to relocate their belongings to high ground only.
The governor said the second warning was in response to water overflowing along Khlong Prapa and leaks in barriers in Laksi.
Vehicles are parked on both outbound and inbound lanes of the flyover near Muang Thong Thani on Chaeng Wattana Road yesterday. Owners left vehicles on the flyover after hearing about a surge of water in Khlong Prapa in the early hours of yesterday. WEERAWONGWONGPREEDEE
The announcement came hours after City Hall and the goverment agreed to a plan to drain the northern runoff through Bangkok's canals.
MR Sukhumbhand said yesterday that all the flood gates in Bangkok had been opened to accommodate the government's flood management plan.
The sluice gate at Khlong 2 canal was opened by one metre to drain water from Pathum Thani's Nava Nakorn. At Thawee Wattana and Mahasawat canals, the sluice gates were opened by 80cm, he said.
Floodwater will be also drained from Raphiphat and Rangsit canals in Pathum Thani through Saen Saep, Prawet and Sam Rong canals of Bangkok and Samut Prakan into the Gulf of Thailand.
"But the BMA will need to think about the people who may be affected. We won't let the water in if we don't have management plans," MR Sukhumbhand said.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday that all the flood gates must be opened and regulated to direct the floodwater flow. Flood walls are only good enough to keep the floodwater from coming crashing in.
"The flood barriers can't stop the water, just slow it down. We need to regulate the opening and closing of flood gates to control water drainage," she said.
She also asked residents living along the canals to cooperate with the government's drainage efforts and not to panic if the water surges.
By opening the floodgates, the government increases the risk of flooding in the capital.
But former Bangkok governor Bhichit Rattakul, said that it may instead cause water to surge onto road surfaces but that it won't flood the city.
"The drainage pattern may cause the water to surge in certain areas, but there is no need to panic. It is not flooding," he said.
Motorcyclists drive along a flooded road running parallel to the overflowing Khlong Prapa near Chaeng Watthana Road. CHUMPORN SANGVILERT
Meanwhile, yesterday, a dispute arose between residents along Khlong Prapa canal at Sri Samarn intersection in Don Muang district.
Authorities were using a backhoe to build a dyke to block water from overflowing from the canal onto a street. Residents on the other side of the canal, fearing that the dyke would cause heavy flooding in their neighbourhood, took control of the backhoe. They used it to destroy the dyke, forcing water onto the road on the other side and away from their community.
Commuters walk along an embankment of sandbags near Rangsit Market which has been submerged. PATTANAPONG HIRUNARD
brace – to get ready for something unpleasant เตรียม
City Hall – a city government ศาลาว่าการกรุงเทพ
drainage – the process of taking away (draining) of water or other liquids from an area การระบายน้ำ
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) – the local government of Bangkok กรุงเทพมหานคร
declare – to announce officially that something is true or happening ประกาศ
risk – the possibility that something dangerous or unpleasant might happen ความเสี่ยง
zone – an area that has an important or typical feature; an area where a particular activity is allowed or not allowed พื้นที่, บริเวณ, เขต
issue – to announce something officially ออกประกาศ
residents – people who live in a particular area ประชาชนที่อาศัยในท้องที่
relocate – to move someone or something to another place โยกย้ายประชาชนออกจากบริเวณ
belongings – the things you own ข้าวของเครื่องใช้
in response to – in reaction to something that has happened or been said ตาม
leak – (of a liquid or gas) flowing out of a hole or crack การรั่วไหล
barrier – a wall, pile of sandbags, etc., that prevents water from entering สิ่งกีดขวาง
outbound – travelling towards a particular point, particularly away from a city ขาออก (opposite of inbound ขาเข้า)
flyover – a bridge that carries one road over another one สะพานลอยที่ให้รถวิ่ง
surge – to increase very quickly เพิ่มขึ้นอย่างรวดเร็ว
runoff – rainfall that cannot be taken in by the soil and which flows into rivers, lakes or the sea ปริมาณของเหลวที่ไหลออก
accommodate – to prepare what is needed for something ปรับให้เข้ากับ, เปลี่ยนให้เหมาะกับ, จัดให้เหมาะ
sluice gate – a gate that can be opened or closed to control the flow water along a passage ประตูน้ำปิดเปิดบังคับการไหลของน้ำในคลอง
regulate – to control an activity officially by using rules ควบคุม
direct – to channel; to send water, light, etc. through a passage ทำให้ไหลไปตามช่อง
cooperate – to work with other people to achieve a result that is good for everyone involved ร่วมมือกัน
panic – a sudden strong feeling of fear or worry that causes you to be unable to think clearly or calmly ความตื่นตกใจ
surface – the outside or top layer of something ผิวหน้า, ผิวภายนอก, ด้านนอก
parallel – when the distance between two lines, etc. is the same all along their length ขนาน
overflowing – (of a river or body of water) flooding the land next to it ไหลล้น
dispute – a serious disagreement ข้อโต้แย้ง
arise (past form: arose) – to happen as a result of a particular situation เกิดขึ้น
intersection – a place where roads, lines, etc., join or cross each other สี่แยก
authorities – people who have the power to make decisions or enforce the law เจ้าหน้าที่ผู้มีอำนาจ
backhoe – a large vehicle with machinery for digging, used in building roads, etc. รถขุดหรือรถเจาะ
dyke – a wall built to prevent the sea or a river from covering an area, or a channel dug to take water away from an area เขื่อนกั้นน้ำ
neighbourhood – a particular area of a city or town ละแวก, ย่าน
community – the people living in one particular area ชุมชน
commuters – people who regularly travel between work and home คนเดินทางระหว่างบ้านและที่ทำงาน
embankment – a slope made of earth or stone that rises up from either side of a road, railway/railroad, river, etc. มูลดิน,ตลิ่งทาง
submerged – under water จมน้ำ อยู่ใต้น้ำ