Floodwaters flowing south toward Bangkok

dpa German Press Agency
Published: Tuesday October 10, 2006

Bangkok- Floodwaters that have devastated parts of northern Thailand, leaving 39 people dead and more than two million with submerged homes, were flowing south toward Bangkok Tuesday threatening to flood the capital city. The high water is flowing down the Chao Phraya River that drains most of northern and central Thailand before it winds its way through greater Bangkok and into the Gulf of Thailand 20 kilometres south of Bangkok.

This year's are the worst floods since 1995 but the situation should start to improve on October 13, Irrigation Department Director General Samart Chokkanapitak told the press.

"The rain from the north will start to reduce, but the weather situation is unstable," he said, suggesting if more rains fall in the water-logged north and central provinces it will also mean more trouble for Bangkok.

Bangkok was only saved from massive flooding Tuesday because land owners led by King Bhumibol Adulyadej allowed the Irrigation Department to flood huge tracks of farmland in the central provinces from 30 to 130 kilometres north of the capital starting Monday.

If the floodwaters had not been diverted Bangkok would have been a very wet place Tuesday. Samart said the Irrigation Department is trying to save housing areas by flooding fields instead.

Also on Tuesday, the king said the new government should make dealing with the flooding one of its top three priorities.

Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont and his 26-member cabinet, after being sworn in Monday, held their first cabinet meeting Tuesday.

The floods so far have caused more than 6 million dollars in damage, the government reported.

© 2006 dpa German Press Agency