53 city piers ruled 'unsafe' for Loy Krathong

53 city piers ruled 'unsafe' for Loy Krathong

Tourist police patrol piers along the Chao Phraya River as part of safety measures ahead of the Loy Krathong festival tomorrow. (Photo by Panupong Changchai)
Tourist police patrol piers along the Chao Phraya River as part of safety measures ahead of the Loy Krathong festival tomorrow. (Photo by Panupong Changchai)

City Hall has shut 53 piers along the Chao Phraya River for the Loy Krathong festival on Wednesday, because they are deemed unsafe for use by celebrating crowds.

Extra safety measures have also been arranged for all 203 organised celebration sites in the capital

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Patribatra said the city administration had made safety inspections of 436 piers and pontoons in Bangkok, and had made repairs to 383 of them.

The inspection found 53 piers were unsafe for public use, needing major repairs. These included  Wang Lang, Siriraj, Kiak Kai, Phra Arthit and Phra Khanong piers. Warning signs were put up to bar people from using them, Post Today reported on Tuesday.

Deputy spokeswoman Bensai Keeyapat said the BMA had prepared teams of officials to safety and security for Loy Krathong celebrants at 203 locations where festivities were being organised -- 29 public parks and 174 private sites. These included Phadung Krung Kasem canal, beneath Rama 8 Bridge on the Thon Buri side, and the River Front at Asiatique.

The main celebration venue will be at Rama 8 Bridge, from 5pm to midnight on Wednesday, Ms Bensai said. It will feature many activities, including cultural and musical performances.

Government spokesman Sansern Kaewkamnerd said the event is expected to draw 1.93 million Thai celebrants and 70,000 foreign visitors, and to generate some 3.75 billion baht in revenue, a 3% increase over last year’s figure.

Thai and foreign visitors learn how to make floats from banana leaves at the Loy Krathong Festival 2015, Nagaraphirom Park on Maharaj Road in Bangkok. The three-day event runs from Nov 23 to Nov 25. (Photo by Wichan Charoenkiatpakul)

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