Thai flooding close factories, threatens Bangkok
Rescue workers carry ducks as they help residents evacuate a flooded area during typhoon Nesat in San Mateo, Rizal, east of Manila. Sept. 27, 2011.
The flooding in Thailand has caused nearly 200 factories to shut done in the central province of Ayutthaya. According to officials, the flooding could threaten Bangkok this week. Thousands of people are preparing to evacuate from the city due to fears that the floods will coincide with peak high sea tides, reports the Sydney Morning Herald.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has postponed her official visit to Malaysia and Singapore, reports Bernama, a Malaysian National News Agency.
About 261 people have died in flood-related incidents reports the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. 2.3 million people have been affected by floods which are the worst to hit Thailand in 50 years, reports Reuters.
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"All 198 factories at Rojan have to be closed because the water is about 5.1 meters high," said Wannarat Channukul the Industry Minister to Reuters.
A factory run by Japanese car manufacturer Honda Motor Co Ltd, has also been closed down. 3,000 assembled cars have been moved from the estate to another areas. Hana Microelectronics Pcl has also had to close its plant.
Eleven of the 26 dams in the country have exceeded their capacity, while others are nearly full, reports the Royal Irrigation Department.
Deputy Prime Minister Pracha Promnok is concerned that the worst it yet to come, as storm systems are moving towards the north and central regions in the upcoming days.