Flooding throughout Bangkok might not be as bad as it as at Thammasat's University Rangsit Campus, but it seems certain to be a major headache for at least the next month.
A road opposite Pata shopping mall in Bang Phlat district floods after the Chao Phraya River surged in the evening. The road isimpassable to small vehicles. PAWAT LAOPAISARNTAKSIN
Fearful city folk brace for soaking
Efforts to drive water to east, west of capital fail
Bangkok residents are living in fear as the authorities have been unsuccessful in trying to divert northern run-off to the east and west of the capital.
About 4,000 million cubic metres of flood water from Ayutthaya is expected to reach Bangkok tomorrow, Deputy Bangkok Governor Pornthep Techapaiboon said yesterday.
"The problem is City Hall can drain no more than 400 million cu m of water a day," Mr Pornthep said.
The huge water mass will enter the west of Bangkok via Nakhon Pathom, Nonthaburi and sweep into Khlong Thawi Watthana, Khlong Bangkok Noi and Khlong Bang Phlad and is expected to reach up to three metres high.
However, Mr Pornthep said there is a 2.7-metre-high railway track in Thawi Watthana district which serves as a floodbarrier in the west of Bangkok.
The water level in the Chao Phraya River reached a record high yesterday, rising to 2.3 metres above sea level against 2.27 metres back in 1995.
The river breached its banks and inundated riverside communities in Bang Phlad, Samsen and Charan Sanitwong.
Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra warned residents living outside the city's embankments to be extra careful orevacuate to shelter centres.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday said that Bangkok has seen floodwaters converge on it from various directions.
A bird’s eye view of the submerged Thammasat University Rangsit Campus from a Royal Thai Air Force helicopter. The university is seeking to relocate some 4,000 flood victims after water broke through barricades. SURAPOL PROMSAKA NA SAKOLNAKORN
She said runoff from the north has reached the north of Bangkok because the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) could not close the Khlong 1 sluice gate in Rangsit as the water flow was too strong and high. The raging torrents couldburst through the water gate.
"The government has no intention of concealing information. We provide the public with regular updates. But too many new factors keep cropping up," Ms Yingluck said.
She added that areas from the Chulalongkorn sluice gate down to Sai Mai district are at risk of floods despite efforts to divert waterflow to the east of Bangkok.
She said there was concern for low-lying areas in the south of Bangkok and in Thon Buri.
Ms Yingluck said that in the west of Bangkok, three more drainage canals in Nakhon Pathom have been dug and dredgedto help divert run-off to the Tha Chin River and on to the sea.
But a problem had arisen as no water had flowed into the canals so far, probably because areas around the canals are flat and even. But it is hoped that the massive flow of runoff will soon surge forward into the canals, she said.
opposite – across from or facing someone or something ที่อยู่ตรงกันข้าม
surge – to increase very quickly เพิ่มขึ้นอย่างรวดเร็ว
impassable – of a road or path that cannot be travelled on because it is blocked or because of bad weather conditions ซึ่งผ่านไปไม่ได้
brace – to get ready for something unpleasant เตรียม
soak – to make something very wet เปียกโชก
capital – the most important town or city of a country, usually where the central government operates from เมืองหลวง
residents – people who live in a particular area ประชาชนที่อาศัยในท้องที่
authorities – people who have the power to make decisions or enforce the law เจ้าหน้าที่ผู้มีอำนาจ
divert – to cause something to change direction เบนเส้นทางเดินน้ำ
run-off – rain, water or other liquid that runs off land into streams and rivers น้ำหลาก
deputy – a person whose rank is immediately below that of the leader of an organisation รอง
City Hall – a city government, in this case, the Bangkok city government กรุงเทพมหานคร
drain – to cause water or fluid to flow out ระบายออก
mass – a large amount or number ปริมาณมาก จำนวนมาก
sweep – to move or spread quickly through an area; to move something or someone with powerful force เคลื่อนไปอย่างรวดเร็ว, พัดพาเอาไป
barrier – a wall, pile of sandbags, etc., that prevents water from entering สิ่งกีดขวาง
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
record – the highest, best or most ever experienced สถิติ
sea level – the height of the land at the edge of the sea the average height of the sea/ocean, used as the basis for measuring the height of all places on land ระดับน้ำทะเล
breach – to break through or over something ข้าม, ทำให้แตก
bank – a raised area of land along the side of a river ริมฝั่งแม่น้ำ
inundated – flooded ถูกน้ำท่วม, จมลงใต้น้ำ
community – the people living in one particular area ชุมชน
embankment – a slope made of earth or stone that rises up from either side of a road, railway/railroad, river, etc. มูลดิน,ตลิ่งทาง
evacuate – to leave a place because it is not safe อพยพออกจากพื้นที่
shelter – a place where people are protected from danger or bad weather; a temporary place to stay ที่หลบภัย ที่พักชั่วคราว
converge – to come from different directions to reach the same point ไปยังจุดหมายเดียวกัน
submerge – to cause to be under water ทำให้จมน้ำ ทำให้อยู่ใต้น้ำ
relocate – to move someone or something to another place โยกย้ายประชาชนออกจากบริเวณ
victim – someone who has been affected by a bad situation, such as an illness or an accident เหยื่อผู้เคราะห์ร้าย
barricade – a temporary structure built to prevent someone/something from getting past แผงหรือแนวรั้วกั้น
(Royal) Irrigation Department – The Thai government department in charge of the country's irrigation system กรมชลประทาน
sluice gate – a gate that can be opened or closed to control the flow water along a passage ประตูน้ำปิดเปิดบังคับการไหลของน้ำในคลอง
raging – happening with a lot of force or violence รุนแรงมาก
torrent – a large amount of water flowing rapidly and violently กระแสน้ำเชี่ยว,การไหลพุ่
burst – to break open suddenly because there is too much pressure inside or against โพล่ง, แตก, ระเบิด
intention – a plan in your mind to do something ความตั้งใจ เจตนา แผนการ
conceal – to hide something ซุก ซ่อน
update – the most recent information or news about something ข้อมูลใหม่ๆ
factor – a fact or situation which influences the result of something ปัจจัย
crop up – to appear or happen, especially when it is not expected เกิดขึ้นอย่างไม่คาดหมายไว้
at risk – in danger ตกอยู่ในความเสี่ยง
concern – a worry ความกังวล
dredge – to remove unwanted things from the bottom of a river, canal, lake, etc. using a sucking or other device ขุดลอก
arise – to happen as a result of a particular situation เกิดขึ้น
even – smooth, level and flat เรียบ,ราบ
massive – very large ใหญ่มหาศาล
