Flooding ‘will not be like in 2011'

A woman's house in Nonthaburi is flooded as the Chao Phraya Dam in Chainat discharges more water downstream. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)
A woman's house in Nonthaburi is flooded as the Chao Phraya Dam in Chainat discharges more water downstream. (Photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)

Experts and government authorities have given assurances Thailand won’t face repeat of deluge a decade ago.

They are attempting to allay public concern about flooding and rising waters in several parts of the country.

Interior Minister Anupong Paojinda said several water retention areas have been created, with systematic water management in place to cope with the situation and store floodwater for use in the dry season.

"I have instructed provincial governors and agencies under the Interior Ministry to be on standby to help flood victims," he said.

He stressed the need for timely flood alerts and for authorities to have food, drinking water, essential items and relief supplies ready for quick delivery to flood victims.

Pakorn Ataphant, executive director of the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (Gistda), said several factors make a repeat of 2011’s flooding unlikely.

In 2011, there were several storms affecting Thailand, compared to the present situation in which only a few storms have arrived, he said.

He said aerial photographs in 2011 showed about 25 million rai of land was flooded, but current aerial photos of the same areas show only about 2.5 million rai is under water.

Experience gained in 2011 is likewise providing advantage: water management efforts have improved significantly and include construction of flood levees as well as an increase in water retention areas which now cover 160,000 rai, Mr Pakorn said.

"The current situation will not be like in 2011. So, people should not panic. The rate of water, currently at 2,600 cubic metres per second, will not lead to severe floods, except for waterside communities which may face floodwaters of up to 30 cubic metres but the water will drain away in a few days. Economic and industrial areas will not be affected as in 2011," Mr Pakorn said.

Vocabulary

  • aerial (adj): (of a photograph or video) from a plane or helicopter - ภาพถ่ายทางอากาศ
  • allay: to make some feel less of something, like worry, fear or doubt - ขจัดความสงสัย ขจัดความกังวล
  • assurance (noun): a statement that something is true, esp. when there is doubt about it; a promise; a guarantee - การรับประกัน, การรับรอง
  • cubic metre: the volume of a cube with edges one metre in length - ลูกบาศก์เมตร
  • deluge: a sudden flow of a large amount of water; a sudden, very heavy rainfall - น้ำปริมาณมาก ฝนตกหนัก
  • factor: a fact or situation which influences the result of something - ปัจจัย
  • flooding (noun): a large amount of water covering an area that is usually dry - น้ำท่วม
  • levee: a low wall built at the side of a river to prevent it from flooding - เขื่อนป้องกันน้ำท่วม
  • relief: help for improving a bad physical condition or a bad situation - การผ่อนคลาย, การบรรเทา
  • standby: something which is ready for use if needed - สำรอง
  • stress: to emphasise something such as an idea, fact or detail; to explain why something is important - เน้น
  • systematic (adj): done according to a system or plan, in a thorough, efficient or determined way - ซึ่งเป็นระบบ
Do you like the content of this article?
COMMENT
MORE IN SECTION