Thai authorities agree to dig roads to hasten floodwater release

The Flood Relief Operations Center (FROC) and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) have agreed with a plan to dig a water passage across five eastbound roads in hope of speeding up the flood diversion to the sea, Thai National News Bureau reported on Friday. Speaking of the attempt to resolve the flood crisis, Deputy Bangkok Governor Theerachon Manomaipiboon disclosed that the FROC and the BMA were trying hard to expedite the discharge of floodwater into the Gulf of Thailand via the canal system within the eastern part of Bangkok. Therefore, a joint decision has been made by the FROC and the BMA to excavate two roads to open a channel for the floodwater to flow more directly toward the sea. Prior to the digging process, which is expected to complete within three days, temporary flyovers will be installed at the sites in order to allow traffic to carry on as usual. Floods have prevailed in four district in the north of Bangkok, namely Don Muang, Bangplat, Sai Mai and Taweewattana. The authorities have issued evacuation warning to residents in these districts. Meanwhile nine districts have been warned of possible flash flood mostly in the north and the east of the capital. The capital has about 5.7 million residents. If the water can travel down the passage as planned, it will be met with nearly 100 water pumps and will be quickly siphoned out to the sea. Improvements in the flood situation can then be expected within 2-3 weeks. However, Theerachon admitted that impacts on residents living near the flood channel would be inevitable. He thus emphasized the need for the Government to formulate a concrete rehabilitation plan for them. A total of 377 people were confirmed dead and two people were missing in the floods that have inundated the upper part of the country for almost three months, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported on Friday morning. Flash floods were caused by the heavy monsoon "Nock-Ten" since mid July. Floods still prevail in 27 of 77 provinces, affecting about 730,000 households and 2.2 million people.