Bangkok flood? It’s already here | Bangkok Post: learning

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Parts of Bangkok have been flooded for a month now.

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Bangkok’s flood zones

A resident of Khiew Khai Ka community in Bangkok's Dusit district prepares for a rise in the Chao Phrya River on Saturday.

It hasn’t made much news, but parts of Bangkok have been inundated for a month.

These are communities unprotected by the city’s 77km flood dyke erected by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) along the Chao Phraya River.

Altogether there are 27 communities scattered across 13 districts that are prone to flooding virtually every year.

The Khiew Khai Ka community in Dusit district is one of them.

‘‘We are in for chronic flooding. The water level varies, but I can tell you that we have battled floods here for the past month,’’ community leader Somsak sae Han said yesterday.

‘‘We have taken our belongings to higher ground. From what I can see, run off from the North is likely to reach us in three days,’’ he said.

Residents aren’t complaining much, but they do want help from the city.

Mr Somsak urged authorities to take care about the help they send flood-stricken residents.

‘‘Food arrives every year, of course, but not all of it is fit to eat. We have to be sure it isn’t gnawed by rats,’’ he said.

Resident Nopporn Samrit said a new walkway would help, as the existing one was under water.

Medicines to treat flood-induced diseases are also needed.

‘‘Authorities inspect the community during the floods but it is more of a publicity stunt,’’ he said.

Boonsom Somboon, who has lived in the community for more than 40 years, said flooding was a fact of life.

With many home toilets flooded, residents have no choice but to visit public conveniences or wait until they get to work.

‘‘Some go to a nearby school, shopping malls or petrol stations to do their business. Those who can endure hold it until they get to the office,’’ he said.

Adapted from a story by Supoj Wancharoen in today's Bangkok Post.

zone – an area that has an important or typical feature; an area where a particular activity is allowed or not allowed พื้นที่, บริเวณ, เขต
inundate – to flood; to submerge ท่วม, ทำให้จมลงใต้น้ำ
community –  the people who live in an area ชุมชน
dyke – a wall built to prevent the sea or a river from covering an area, or a channel dug to take water away from an area เขื่อนกั้นน้ำ
erect – to put the parts of something together so that it stands upright  ตั้งขึ้น
Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) – the local government of Bangkok กรุงเทพมหานคร
scattered – spread over a large area กระจัดกระจาย
prone to – likely to experience a particular problem more often than is usual ที่มีแนวโน้ม
virtually - almost เกือบจะ
chronic – (of a disease, pain or suffering) serious and lasting for a long time เป็นประจำ
vary – to be different in different situations ปรวนแปร, เปลี่ยนแปลง
battle – to fight against ต่อสู้
belongings – the things you own ข้าวของเครื่องใช้
run off – water flowing away from a flooded area
residents – people who live in a particular area ประชาชนที่อาศัยในท้องที่
urge – to advise someone very strongly about what action or attitude they should take ผลักดัน, กระตุ้น
stricken – affected by serious problems ได้รับผลกระทบจากปัญหาหนักหน่วง
fit – suitable for a particular situation; appropriate ที่เหมาะสม
gnaw – to keep biting something แทะ
induce – to cause something, especially a mental or physical change ทำให้เกิด
authorities – people who have the power to make decisions or enforce the law เจ้าหน้าที่ผู้มีอำนาจ
inspect – to look at something carefully ตรวจสอบ
publicity – attention in magazines, newspapers, or television การเผยแพร่
publicity stunt – something that is done to get attention for the person or people responsible for it
fact of life – something that you may not like but have to accept because it is always there or always true ความเป็นจริง
public convenience – a building with toilets that anyone can use ห้องน้ำสาธารณะ
endure – to suffer something difficult or unpleasant in a patient way over a long period of time อดทนเพื่อให้ผ่านเวลาหรือเหตุการณ์ที่เลวร้าย

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