Residents in twenty-six provinces have been warned of possible flash floods from Saturday until May 25 while the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) continues clearing the city's drainage system and installing water pumps citywide.
Deputy government spokesman Karom Phonphonklang said on Friday heavy rain is forecast for 26 provinces -- 11 each in the North and South and four in the Central Region -- over seven days, leading to possible runoff and flash floods.
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has put emergency response teams on standby and deployed equipment in flood-prone areas to provide assistance, he said.
Residents in these flood-prone provinces are being urged to closely follow the weather forecasts and warnings, make the necessary preparations and heed authorities' advice to stay safe, he added.
In its latest forecast, the Meteorological Department said more rain and thunderstorms are predicted across the country from today due to a change of winds. It is monitoring a low-pressure ridge that is forming in the Andaman Sea during May 20-26, which may bring heavy rain to large parts of the country, especially in provinces along the Andaman coast, and cause flooding.
According to BMA deputy permanent secretary Narong Rueangsri, City Hall has made preparations for the rainy season, including unclogging the city's drains and canals and identifying flood-prone areas for surveillance.
Based on a May 14 work report, 62.9% of the city's drains and canals--2,664.7 kilometres out of 4,234.7km -- have been cleared, and 1,120 water pumps out of a planned 1,134 have been installed.
All four irrigation tunnels, 241 water gates, and 188 pumping stations have been inspected and cleared.
The BMA has identified five flood-prone sections on five major roads -- Ratchayothin Road, Chaeng Watthana Road, Phaya Thai Road, Sri Ayutthaya Road and Moo Ban Setthakit Road.