7 piers, 2 canals closed to Loy Krathong festivities

25 พฤศจิกายน 2558

The Transport Ministry has temporarily closed seven piers along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok ahead of the tonight's Loy Krathong festival for safety reasons. Two canals feeding water treatment plants are also off limits.

The Transport Ministry has temporarily closed seven piers along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok ahead of the tonight's Loy Krathong festival for safety reasons. Two canals feeding water treatment plants are also off limits.

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Seven piers close ahead of festival

Amornrat Mahitthirook

The Transport Ministry has temporarily closed seven piers along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok ahead of the tonight's Loy Krathong festival because their safety cannot be guaranteed.

Deputy Transport Minister Ormsin Chivapruck told the cabinet Tuesday he had taken his transport officials on an inspection of piers along the river and found seven piers were unsuitable for revellers to use during the festival.

The piers are Bang Po (North), Wat Chat Kaew Chongkolnee, Rachinee, Saphan Phut 2, Si Phraya, Wat Muang Khae and Payap. They are located between Rama VII and Rama IX bridges covering a distance of 20km, Mr Ormsin said.

His staff told nearby residents of the temporary closures, saying services at the piers were not up to standard. Mr Ormsin said the Marine Department, which is in charge of the river's piers and docks, has fixed many faulty piers to help boost safety.

Officials and members of the public were out cleaning up Khlong Ong Ang in Samphanthawong district for Wednesday's Loy krathong festivities, but seven Chao Phraya piers are off limits for safety reasons. PANUPONG CHANGCHAI

The department asked its staff to change the rubber buffers at the piers to better protect the boats. They have also installed safety gates, signs and life jacket stations to provide safety to travellers.

"The inspection found seven faulty piers have yet to be fixed. That was why we ordered the temporary closure during the Loy Krathong festival tonight," (Wednesday) he said.

He has also ordered boat operators to check whether their safety equipment is ready for use and warned his officials would begin to take legal action against those which fail to provide adequate safety to the public.

He said powerboats, barges and cargo ships are not allowed to cruise along the river between Rama VII and Rama IX bridges from 4pm to midnight to boost safety for Loy Krathong revellers. But small boats and passenger boats are still allowed to use this section of the river.

Mr Ormsin said more than 200 police would be deployed to provide safety at piers while 14 boats and four jetskis would also help with patrols.

Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said Tuesday that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration oversees 436 piers along the river and canals, but only 383 of them are fit for use.

MR Sukhumbhand said that 53 piers are undergoing maintenance and have been closed for some time.

Meanwhile, two canals used to supply water to residences have been declared off limits to Loy Krathong activities.

The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MWA) reminded revellers looking forward to the festival about two waterways they should not drop their wish-laden floats into: the eastern and western Prapa canals.

The agency mainly relies on Eastern Khlong Prapa, running 106 kilometres from the Mae Klong River in Kanchanaburi province, to feed water to a treatment plant in Bang Kruai district of Nonthaburi.

Western Khlong Prapa, spanning 31 kilometres from Muang district in Pathum Thani province, is another feeder to another plant in Sam Sen, Bangkok.

The story includes information for our online reporters.