As Thailand battles against the worst flooding its seen in more than 50 years, local officials and foreign embassies alike are warning tourists that Bangkok’s flood defences could be overwhelmed in the next few days.
Speaking to reporters earlier this afternoon, Thai Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Rong explained that it was looking more and more likely that the city would be swamped by flood waters flowing downstream from central Thailand:
“We have to admit that we are in crisis. Everybody must be prepared and can’t be complacent. You should prepare what you will do and where you will be.”
Floodwaters have devastated 60 of Thailand’s 77 provinces over the last couple of months, sweeping havoc across the nation and causing at least 281 deaths so far, while Thailand’s Ministry of Finance has slashed its economic growth forecast for 2011 from 4% to 3.7% as a result of the deluge, and said that the total bill for the disaster could be in excess of $3.9 billion.
Meanwhile, Bangkok has seen a spate of panic buying as city residents scramble to stock up on essentials to see them through the crisis. Supermarkets across the city have been cleaned out of basic supplies such as rice, noodles, bottled water and canned foods.
Bangkok On The Brink
For now at least, most parts of the Thai capital remain unaffected by the flooding, thanks to a mass mobilization of military personnel and volunteers to bolster flood defenses surrounding the city. Major tourist areas including Khao San Road, Silom and Sukhumvit Road remain above water, but already some outlying suburbs of Bangkok have been affected, including Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani. Numerous homes and businesses located near the Chao Phraya River further inside Bangkok have also experienced flooding, with water levels are expected to rise further in the coming days.
Thai officials are now racing against the clock to finish work on five drainage canals and three additional flood defense barriers in the next couple of days, before the crucial date of October 16 when high tides are expected to peak. The 16th through to the 18th are expected to be critical dates for the city, as high tides are forecast to coincide with yet more heavy rain in what is traditionally the wettest time of the year in Thailand. Low lying areas around Suvarnabhumi International Airport and those communities next to rivers and canals are said to be most vulnerable, although privately some government officials admit that the whole city could be overwhelmed.
Latest Bangkok Flood Updates
Foreign residents and tourists travelling in Bangkok are urged to keep a close eye on the situation over the next few days, and should be ready to evacuate the city if necessary. Furthermore, 21 foreign embassies have warned against all non-essential travel to the country while the danger of flooding remains.
Thaitravelblogs is providing continuous updates on the latest situation in Bangkok, featuring maps of affected areas in the city and the latest Thai government warnings. They also have a live Twitter feed providing regular updates in English.
In addition, English-language newspapers The Nation and The Bangkok Post are both providing in-depth coverage of the latest flood situation.