Saturday flood news
Excerpts from 3 stories in today?s Bangkok Post including the likely loss of Rama 2 road to the South, the inundation of the Lat Prao area and the ?big sandbag? barrier.
Excerpts from 3 stories in today?s Bangkok Post including the likely loss of Rama 2 road to the South, the inundation of the Lat Prao area and the ?big sandbag? barrier.
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Here are excerpts from three stories making news today in the Bangkok Post.
Click button to listen to Rama 2 and rightclick to download
Froc abandons Rama II Road
Amornrat Mahitthirook
Nareerat Wiriyapong
Rama II Road has been left defenceless against approaching floodwater after a decision that could cut road links between Bangkok and the South.
With some sections of Phetkasem and Boromratchonnanee roads impassable due to high water levels, Rama II is the only lifeline available for motorists wanting to travel to the South or resort areas in the lower central provinces.
A source at the Flood Relief Operations Command said officials had decided not to build barriers to stop water moving towards the road and will let it flow over it and continue to the Gulf of Thailand.
"It is useless to block the water moving out to the sea. If we do that, more people will be affected," the source said.
Read the full story here: http://bit.ly/sef4wF
Flood Relief Operations Centre (Froc) – the government's centre for assisting flood victims ศูนย์ปฎิบัติการช่วยเหลือผู้ประสบอุทกภัย(ศปภ)
abandon – to leave someone/something ปล่อยทิ้งไว้
defenceless – having no protection ไร้การป้องกัน,ไม่มีการคุ้มครอง
approach – to move closer to someone or something เข้าใกล้
link – a connection การเชื่อมต่อ
section – any of the parts into which something is divided ส่วน, ส่วนที่ตัดออก, ส่วนย่อย
impassable – of a road or path that cannot be travelled on because it is blocked or because of bad weather conditions ซึ่งผ่านไปไม่ได้
due to – because of เนื่องจาก
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
lifeline – something that is very important for somebody and that they depend on
source – someone who gives information แหล่งข่าว
barrier – a wall, pile of sandbags, etc., that prevents water from entering สิ่งกีดขวาง
flow – (of a liquid) to move continuously in one direction ไหล
Floodwaters fill the Lat Phrao-Phahon Yothin intersection yesterday, closing the Central Plaza department store and raising fears that the deluge is approaching inner Bangkok. RATTASEEMA PONGSEN
Click button to listen to Chatuchak and rightclick to download
Deluge hits Chatuchak, moves closer to centre
Protesters block sluice gate closure
POST REPORTERS
The northern run-off has reached Lat Phrao intersection in Chatuchak district, disrupting businesses, residents and the Flood Relief Operation Command (Froc) headquarters nearby.
The water level at the intersection was measured at 60cm at midday yesterday and appeared to be rising. Residents and employees had to wade through knee-high water to flee flooded homes and workplaces.
The floods also led to the closure of two out of three gates of the Phahon Yothin MRT station and might eventually lead to the complete closure of the station if the water rises to a critical level.
After Lat Phrao, floodwater was expected to flow to Ratchadapisek Road and the wider Chatuchak area as the topography map shows that the two areas sit on low-lying zones, said Seri Supparathit, a Rangsit University expert on natural disasters.
Meanwhile, the government's attempts to safeguard Lat Krabang and Bangchan industrial estates from the northern run-off were frustrated yesterday when more than 300 residents protested against the closure of Khlong 9 water gate in Pathum Thani's Lam Luk Ka district.
The water gate closure was aimed at reducing the amount of water flowing downstream to Bangkok's Min Buri and Lat Krabang districts, where the two estates are situated.
Authorities, protected by troops, yesterday managed to close sluice gates at Khlong 8 and Khlong 10, but failed to close the Khlong 9 sluice gates as the number of protesters grew to 300.
The protesters blocked Lam Luk Ka Road to prevent authorities from entering the sluice gate.
They said the gate closure would worsen the flood situation in their locality, which has been inundated for weeks.
You can read the original story here: http://bit.ly/u2YQ3u
intersection – a place where roads, lines, etc., join or cross each other สี่แยก
deluge – a sudden flow of a large amount of water, a sudden, very heavy rainfall น้ำปริมาณมาก ฝนตกหนัก
protester – someone who shows that they disagree with something by standing somewhere, shouting, carrying signs, etc ผู้ต่อต้าน, ผู้ประท้วง
block – to stop someone/ something from moving through or along something else ปิดกั้น, กีดขวาง
sluice gate – a gate that can be opened or closed to control the flow water along a passage ประตูน้ำปิดเปิดบังคับการไหลของน้ำในคลอง
run-off – rain, water or other liquid that runs off land into streams and rivers น้ำหลาก
disrupt – to prevent something from continuing as usual or as expected ทำให้ยุ่งเหยิง, ทำให้ยุ่งยาก
residents – people who live in a particular area ประชาชนที่อาศัยในท้องที่
headquarters – the place where an organisation or company has its main offices สำนักงานใหญ่ กองบัญชาการ
wade – to walk with an effort through something, especially water or mud ลุย เดินท่องน้ำ หรือ โคลน
knee – the joint between the top and bottom parts of the leg where it bends in the middle หัวเข่า
flee – to leave a place or person quickly because you are afraid of possible danger หนี อพยพ
eventually – at the end of a period of time or at the end of a process ในที่สุด
critical – (of a bad situation) very serious or dangerous อย่างรุนแรง อย่างวิกฤต
topography – the physical features of an area of land, especially the position of its rivers, mountains, etc; the study of these features ภูมิประเทศ
zone – an area that has an important or typical feature; an area where a particular activity is allowed or not allowed พื้นที่, บริเวณ, เขต
natural disaster – an unexpected natural event, such as a very bad storm or flood that kills a lot of people or causes a lot of damage ความหายนะธรรมชาติทาง, ภัยพิบัติธรรมชาติทาง
meanwhile – at the same time ในเวลาเดียวกัน
industrial estate – an area of land where industrial companies have their buildings นิคมอุตสาหกรรม
frustrated – prevented someone/something from succeeding กลายเป็นไม่ได้ผล
reduce – to make something smaller or less in amount, size, importance etc ลดลง
downstream – in the direction that a river or stream is flowing ตามกระแสน้ำ
situated – located ระบุที่อยู่ ที่ตั้ง
authorities – people who have the power to make decisions or enforce the law เจ้าหน้าที่ผู้มีอำนาจ
troops – soldiers, especially in large numbers กองทหาร
locality – a particular area or district สถานที่, ถิ่นที่อยู่
inundated – flooded ถูกน้ำท่วม, จมลงใต้น้ำ
Soldiers speed up work to fill sandbags weighing 2.5 tonnes each along a rail track from Lak Hok in Pathum Thani to Don Mueang airport as part of the city’s flood-relief operations. CHUMPORN SANGVILERT
Click button to listen to Big bags and rightclick to download
City faces 'big bags' gain, pain
POST REPORTERS
The so-called "big bag" barrier is expected to ease flooding in Bangkok's northern districts, albeit at the cost of prolonging the woes of Thon Buri residents on the west side.
The floodwall, built using huge sandbags weighing about 2.5 tonnes each, was to be completed last night.
Authorities hope the big bags will stem the flow of the northern run-off and ease the flooding in Don Muang, Lak Si and Bang Khen districts, as well as sparing the inner city from the deluge.
People who live on the western side will have to bear a heavier cost, however, as the barrier means that flooding there, initially estimated to last about a month, could persist for a further two weeks.
The 6km levee will run alongside the railway track from Chulalongkorn sluice gate in Pathum Thani's Thanyaburi district to Decha Tungkha Road above Don Mueang airport.
The Flood Relief Operations Command (Froc) yesterday said when the entire length of the flood barrier is in place, the run-off held behind it will be diverted to the east and west of Bangkok.
You can read the full story here: http://bit.ly/sFgwfs
gain – a benefit, or an advantage ผลประโยชน์
pain – the feelings that you have in your body when you have been hurt or when you are ill/sick; mental or emotional suffering ความเจ็บปวด
ease - to make or become less severe, difficult, unpleasant, painful, etc ทำให้ง่าย
albeit – although ถึงแม้ว่า
prolonged – continuing for a long time ยืดเวลาออกไป
woes - great problems or troubles ความเสียใจ, ความทุกข์ร้อน
stem – to stop something from increasing or spreading หยุดยั้ง,ยับยั้ง,สกัด
spare – to prevent someone from having to experience something unpleasant ยกโทษให้,อภัยโทษ
bear – to accept, tolerate or endure especially something unpleasant ทน
initially – at first ในเบื้องต้น
estimated – thought to be a particular amount, size, etc. based on a guess or the best information available ประมาณการ
persist – to continue ยืดเยื้อต่อไป
levee – a low wall built at the side of a river to prevent it from flooding เขื่อนป้องกันน้ำท่วม
divert – to cause something to change direction เบนเส้นทางเดินน้ำ
