Flooding in Thailand

Proving again that the media doesn't give much limelight to floods, I just read an article about the almost 270 people that have been killed in Thailand since late July due to an array of tropical storms. This is the first I've heard of this still impending disaster. Currently the Capital of Thailand, Bangkok, is preparing its city for the worst flood in decades. So far this season the Capital city has managed to evade any major damage, but it is predicted that the water has saturated rice fields north of the city and the water will cut a direct path through Bangkok to the sea. There is also a predictably high ocean tide that will slow the progress of the runoff out of the city and into the ocean, causing the floods to stay for a longer period of time. On top of that tropical storm Nalgea, a storm I blogged about earlier that had caused devastation in the Philippines, is due to bring more rain in the next few days.

Obviously being the Capital city, Bangkok seems to be more vulnerable than many other provinces because it is the epicenter of the government and industry in Thailand. They are preparing evacuation plans just in case and stocking up on emergency food and water supplies.

On the engineering end of the rope the city is sandbagging the banks of the rivers and these walls seem to be doing the job for now. The city is looking into installing about 400 water pumps along the Chao Phraya River, that would help move the water from the city into the sea. They plan on digging 7 canals to also help the flow of water from Bangkok, these will be placed on the boundary of the city. Also the already constructed drainage tunnels under the city are predicted to be able to handle most of the flood waters.

Below: "Thai mahouts ride their elephants through the flooded streets in Ayutthaya, Thailand. Flooding in the central province has killed more than 260 people since late July. Source: Getty Images"

http://resources2.news.com.au/images/2011/10/11/1226163/592710-111011-thailand-floods.jpg


http://www.weather.com/outlook/weather-news/news/articles/bangkok-floods_2011-10-10
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/08/thailand-floods-2011_n_1001468.html