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If any district in the Bangkok area needs to be declared a disaster zone, Bang Bua Thong district of neighbouring Nonthaburi should be first on the list.

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People in Bang Bua Thong district of Nonthaburi continue to flee from their flooded homes as the water showed no sign of receding yesterday. Photos by Apichart Jinakul and Pattarachai Prechapanich.

Evening update

Assoc Prof Seri Suparatij, an energy expert at Rangsit University and well known for his flood analysis on television, visited Bang Bua Thong this morning and declared it a full-scale disaster area requiring urgent action.

He said there was still much water to come and although water levels would not rise significantly, they would not fall significantly for perhaps as much as a month.

He said it was vital to get people out of the area because it could quickly become a severe health crisis.

analysis – the detailed study or examination of something in order to understand more about it; the result of the study  การวิเคราะห์
declare – to announce officially that something is true or happening ประกาศ
full-scale – as complete and thorough as possible; all-out การใช้ทรัพยากรที่มีอยู่อย่างเต็มที่
disaster – something very bad that happens and causes a lot of damage or kills a lot of people  ความหายนะ  ภัยพิบัติ
urgent – needing to be dealt with immediately ที่เร่งด่วน
level – the amount of liquid that there is in a container, river, dam, etc., which can be seen by how high the liquid is ระดับ
significantly – in an important way อย่างมีความหมาย, อย่างสำคัญ
vital – extremely important; necessary for the success or continued existence of something จำเป็นสำหรับชีวิต; สำคัญมาก
severe – very serious and unpleasant รุนแรง


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Bang Bua Thong now a lake

If any district in the Bangkok area needs to be declared a disaster zone, Bang Bua Thong district of neighbouring Nonthaburi should be first on the list. Virtually the whole district is under water, much of it chest-deep or more.

Bang Bua Thong is full of housing estates, home to tens of thousands of people, and they are furious at what they see as a totally inadequate government response.

The most common complaint is the lack of boats for evacuation efforts.

Naris Pankhem, a resident of Imperial Place housing estate, said there was no warning from the government or local authorities that floodwater in Bang Bua Thong district would rise to more than 1 metre, leaving no time for many residents to prepare for the flooding.

"We have to leave our community immediately," Mr Naris said. "If we stay here, we will be cut off from the outside world. Most of us will evacuate to take refuge at shelters. I believe residents at other flood-hit housing estates are facing the same plight."

At Ua Arthorn Bang Bua Thong housing estate, water was almost at the ceiling level of the first floor of two-storey houses.

Ms Chidchanok Long-ngarn, a resident of Seranee Lagoon housing estate in Bang Bua Thong, was slightly better off. She said floodwater there rose to 40cm.

She decided not to evacuate as she had already moved belongings to the upper floor of her flooded house. So far, the electric and water supplies have not been cut off, she said.

Bang Bua Thong municipality clerk Det Ingkhasit yesterday said the municipality had inadequate boats to evacuate residents and provide relief items to residents trapped in flood-hit communities. Those wanting to donate their boats could contact the municipality.
 
Adapted from a story in today’s Bangkok Post. You can read the full story here: http://bit.ly/p1PGaz

flee – to leave a place or person quickly because you are afraid of possible danger หนี อพยพ
recede – to move back; to move further away into the distance; subside ลดลง, ถอยหลัง
lake – a large area of water that is surrounded by land ทะเลสาบ, บึง
declare – to announce officially that something is true or happening ประกาศ
disaster – something very bad that happens and causes a lot of damage or kills a lot of people  ความหายนะ  ภัยพิบัติ
zone – an area that has an important or typical feature; an area where a particular activity is allowed or not allowed พื้นที่, บริเวณ, เขต
neighbouring – located or living near or next to a place or person  ที่อยู่ใกล้เคียง, ที่ตั้งอยู่ใกล้เคียง
virtually – almost เกือบจะ
chest – the upper front part of the body of humans and some animals, between the stomach and the neck, containing the heart and lungs หน้าอก
housing estate – residential estate; an area containing a large number of houses or apartments built close together at the same time บ้านจัดสรร
furious – extremely angry ซึ่งโกรธจัด
inadequate – not enough, or not good enough for a particular purpose อย่างไม่เพียงพอ
response – a reaction to something that has happened or been said การตอบสนอง
lack of – when there is not enough of something  ขาด
evacuation – moving people from a place of danger to a safer place การอพยพ
resident – a person who lives in a particular area ผู้อาศัยในบริเวณ
local – in or related to the area that you live, or to the particular area that you are talking about  ท้องถิ่น
authorities – people who have the power to make decisions or enforce the law เจ้าหน้าที่ผู้มีอำนาจ
community – the people living in one particular area ชุมชน
immediately – happening right after something else with no delay; right away ทันที
take refuge – to go to a place which provides protection or shelter from danger or trouble ลี้ภัย
shelter – a place where people are protected from danger or bad weather; a temporary place to stay ที่หลบภัย  ที่พักชั่วคราว
plight – an unpleasant condition, especially a serious, sad or difficult one สภาพเลวร้าย
ceiling – the top inside surface of a room เพดาน
storey – a level in a building ชั้นของตึกหรืออาคาร
belongings – the things you own ข้าวของเครื่องใช้
municipality – a town, city or district with its own local government เทศบาล
relief – help; assistance การช่วยให้พ้นภัย
trapped – unable to leave a place
donate – to give something such as money or goods to an organisation, especially to a charity, school, political party, etc. บริจาค

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