Record river levels the latest concern

Overflows from the Chao Phraya may make for great tourist photos, but they are a growing concern for city residents and government officials.

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Chao Phraya on the brink

PM says floodwalls not able to withstand water
  
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra warned Bangkok residents in all areas last night to brace for flooding after advancing run-off from the north of Bangkok surged into Don Mueang airport yesterday.

The prime minister conceded existing floodwalls and water embankments might not be able to withstand the massive inundation and said there was a strong chance the flood will penetrate central and inner zones of the capital.

"The highest risk will be areas along the Chao Phraya River and the floodwalls along the banks. The flood level will depend on how well we can manage the water flow," Ms Yingluck said in a televised message.

She said the government and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will work together to ensure the flood level will be kept to a minimum.

Bangkok governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra said the water level in the Chao Phraya River yesterday reached a record high, rising to between 2.35 and 2.4 metres above sea level.

If the water level continues to rise at this rate, the Chao Phraya will surge up to 2.6m high this weekend whereas the embankment along the river is 2.5m high.

He said riverside communities are urged to be on full alert and prepare for evacuation. Evacuation centres have been arranged at all 50 district offices.

"The high water level in the Chao Phraya River is unprecedented," MR Sukhumbhand said.

City Hall's flood prevention centre yesterday reported that the Chao Phraya water level reached its peak yesterday at 2.4 metres above sea level, recorded in front of Pak Khlong Talat.

Sea tides are expected to be unusually high today.

MR Sukhumbhand said that City Hall can no longer strengthen the embankments stretching more than 86km along the river banks with the more than 10 million sandbags required in a limited period.

All the city can do is now focus on protecting important places including the Grand Palace, Siriraj Hospital and Don Mueang airport, which is where the Flood Relief Operations Command (Froc) is located, he said.

The BMA will work with the Highways Department to build a 3m floodwall stretching about 39km to protect the east of Bangkok.

Don Muang district office chief Phumiphat Damrongkiatisak said all of Don Muang district was submerged as the Khlong 1 sluice gate in Rangsit could not be closed, allowing a substantial volume of run-off to spread through the area.

The local road near Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, areas near Khlong Prem Prachakorn, and the Vibhavadi Rangsit Road in front of the airport were under 80cm of water. However, the water level in Khlong Prapa has returned to normal and floods in Lak Si district and Chaeng Wattana Road have receded as a result.

Flooding in Bang Phlat district worsened yesterday with fresh areas being inundated and much of Charan Sanitwong road submerged.

There were reports of embankments being breached at several sections of the embankment along the Chao Phraya River on the Thon Buri side.

brink – edge ริม,ขอบ
on the brink – the point in time when something very bad (or very good) is about to happen ช่วงเวลาเสี่ยงภัย
withstand – to be strong enough not to be hurt or damaged by extreme force, extreme conditions, etc. ทนทาน
residents – people who live in a particular area ประชาชนที่อาศัยในท้องที่
brace – to get ready for something unpleasant เตรียม
advance – to move forward เคลื่อนไปข้างหน้า
run-off – rain, water or other liquid that runs off land into streams and rivers น้ำหลาก
surge – to increase very quickly เพิ่มขึ้นอย่างรวดเร็ว
concede – to admit that something is true ยอมรับว่าถูก
embankment – a slope made of earth or stone that rises up from either side of a road, railway/railroad, river, etc. มูลดิน,ตลิ่งทาง
massive – very large ใหญ่มหาศาล
inundation – flood น้ำท่วม
penetrate – to go into or through something แทรกซึมเข้าไป, ผ่านเข้าไป, ทะลุเข้าไป
zone – an area that has an important or typical feature; an area where a particular activity is allowed or not allowed พื้นที่, บริเวณ, เขต
risk – the possibility that something dangerous or unpleasant might happen ความเสี่ยง
bank – a raised area of land along the side of a river  ริมฝั่งแม่น้ำ
level – the amount of liquid that there is in a container, river, dam, etc., which can be seen by how high the liquid is ระดับ
flow – the continuous movement of a liquid in one direction การไหล
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) – the local government of Bangkok กรุงเทพมหานคร
ensure – to make certain that something happens or is done  ให้การยืนยัน, รับรอง, ให้ความมั่นใจ
minimum – as small in amount or degree as necessary or possible จำนวนน้อยที่สุด, ปริมาณต่ำที่สุด
sea level – the height of the land at the edge of the sea the average height of the sea/ocean, used as the basis for measuring the height of all places on land  ระดับน้ำทะเล
rate – the level or speed at which something happens or changes, or the amount or number of times it happens or changes in a particular period อัตรา
whereas – used for comparing two things, people, situations etc and showing that there is an important difference between them ในทางตรงกันข้าม
community – the people living in one particular area ชุมชน
urge – to advise someone very strongly about what action or attitude they should take ผลักดัน, กระตุ้น
on full alert – ready to deal with a dangerous situation เตรียมพร้อม อย่างเต็มที่
evacuation – moving people from a place of danger to a safer place การอพยพ
unprecedented – never having happened before ที่ไม่เคยเกิดขึ้นมาก่อน
peak – the pointed top of a mountain; a mountain with a pointed top จุดสูงสุด, ยอดสูงสุด
tide – the regular rise and fall of the level of the sea (the tides) ปรากฏการณ์น้ำขึ้นน้ำลง, กระแสน้ำขึ้นน้ำลง
limited – not much or enough; not very great in amount or extent จำกัด
period – a particular length of time  ระยะเวลา  ช่วงเวลา
Flood Relief Operations Centre – the government's centre for assisting flood victims ศูนย์ปฎิบัติการช่วยเหลือผู้ประสบอุทกภัย(ศปภ)
located – where something is ตั้งอยู่
submerged – under water  จมน้ำ อยู่ใต้น้ำ
sluice gate – a gate that can be opened or closed to control the flow water along a passage ประตูน้ำปิดเปิดบังคับการไหลของน้ำในคลอง
substantial – large in size, value or importance มากมาย, ยิ่งใหญ่, สำคัญ
volume – an amount of something ปริมาณ
spread –  gradually affecting or covering a larger area การแพร่กระจาย
local – in or related to the area that you live, or to the particular area that you are talking about  ท้องถิ่น
recede – to move back; to move further away into the distance; subside ลดลง, ถอยหลัง
breach – to break through or over something ข้าม, ทำให้แตก
section – any of the parts into which something is divided ส่วน, ส่วนที่ตัดออก, ส่วนย่อย