Floods across four regions, 40 fatalities

Ongoing floods have spread to cover about 2,700 square kilometres and have killed 40 people with the most affected areas being the Central Plains, government spokesman Ekkapob Pianpises said on Wednesday.

According to Dr Ekkapob, floods have struck 2,208 square kilometres in the Central Plains, 284 square kilometres in the East, 236 square kilometres in the Northeast and eight square kilometres in the western region (Kanchanaburi province).

In Bangkok, mobile water pumps have been installed and have helped the flood level at Kheha Khlong Chan flats in Bang Kapi district fall by about 30 centimetres. More buses and vehicles have been deployed to aid commuters in flooded areas after the work-from-home period ended on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul nonetheless instructed Bangkok governor Chadchart Sittipunt to extend the stay-at-home period pending further drainage, Dr Ekkapob said.

Deputy government spokeswoman Lalida Persivivatana said that in Lat Krabang district of Bangkok, pumps and water-propelling boats have helped drain floodwater into the Prawet Burirom Canal.

She warned people to avoid the heavily flooded roads of:

• Suwinthawong Rd (between Muang Min and Hathai Rat intersections)
• Lat Krabang Rd (at Lotus’s Lat Krabang store)
• Nawamin Rd at Bang Kapi intersection
• Lat Phrao Rd (at Lat Phrao 113, Happy Land and Bang Kapi intersections)
• Happy Land 1 Rd
• Sri Burapha Rd

Ms Lalida said 748 communities remained flooded in 15 districts of Bangkok, namely: Klong Sam Wa, Khannayao, Chatuchak, Bang Khen, Bang Kapi, Bung Kum, Prawet, Min Buri, Lat Krabang, Wang Thonglang, Suan Luang, Saphan Sung, Sai Mai, Nong Chok and Laksi.

Dr Ekkapob said discharge from the Chao Phraya barrage would not overflow embankments in Greater Bangkok and that rain expected over the next few days would not be heavy enough to pose further flood risks.

For the country's western region, Srinagarindra and Vajiralongkorn dams in Kanchanaburi resumed discharges on Wednesday after a three-day suspension. The resumption was timed with faster discharges at the downstream Mae Klong Dam in Kanchanaburi and  would raise the level of the Mae Klong River by 80cm in Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi and Samut Songkhram provinces.

The discharges from Srinagarindra and Vajiralongkorn dams would stop again on Sunday, Dr Ekkapob said.

In the East, flooding has hit Prachin Buri province. The government spokesman said water levels would peak in Prachin Buri on Wednesday and flow onward to Nakhon Nayok, affecting people along the Bang Pakong River in Chachoengsao province in a few days.

The spokesman also said that public health officials were taking care of 52,000 vulnerable flood victims in the East as waters have affected Chao Phraya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital in Prachin Buri and Klaeng and Bankhai hospitals in Rayong province. The three hospitals were partially closed but have continued to treat emergency patients.

Seriously ill patients have been slated for evacuation from Chao Phya Abhaibhubejhr Hospital to nearby hospitals. Dr Ekkapob quoted the Public Health Ministry as reporting 40 flooding fatalities so far.

The discharge rate at the Mae Klong dam in Kanchanaburi province was increased on Wednesday. Piyarach Chongcharoen