The Transport Ministry has temporarily closed seven piers along the Chao Phraya River in Bangkok ahead of the Wednesday night Loy Krathong festival because their safety cannot be guaranteed.
Deputy Transport Minister Ormsin Chivapruck told the cabinet Tuesday he had taken his transport officials on an inspection of piers along the river and found seven piers were unsuitable for revellers to use during the festival.
The piers are Bang Po (North), Wat Chat Kaew Chongkolnee, Rachinee, Saphan Phut 2, Si Phraya, Wat Muang Khae and Payap. They are located between Rama VII and Rama IX bridges covering a distance of 20km, Mr Ormsin said.
His staff told nearby residents of the temporary closure, saying services at the piers were not up to standard. Mr Ormsin said the Marine Department, which is in charge of the river's piers and docks, has fixed many faulty piers to help boost safety.
The department asked its staff to change the rubber buffers at the piers to better protect the boats. They have also installed safety gates, signs and life jacket stations to provide safety to travellers.
"The inspection found seven faulty piers have yet to be fixed. That was why we ordered the temporary closure during the Loy Krathong festival tonight," (Wednesday) he said.
He has also ordered boat operators to check whether their safety equipment is ready for use and warned his officials would begin to take legal action against those which fail to provide adequate safety to the public.
He said powerboats, barges and cargo ships are not allowed to cruise along the river between Rama VII and Rama IX bridges from 4pm to midnight to boost safety for Loy Krathong revellers. But small boats and passenger boats are still allowed to use this section of the river.
Mr Ormsin said more than 200 police would be deployed to provide safety at piers while 14 boats and four jetskis would also help with patrols.
Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said Tuesday that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration oversees 436 piers along the river and canals, but only 383 of them are fit for use.
MR Sukhumbhand said that 53 piers are undergoing maintenance and have been closed for some time.
Meanwhile, police said they had nabbed 4,000 suspects in old and new criminal cases in a one-week crackdown, launched in nine provinces of the lower North, ahead of Wednesday night's festival.