Bangkok floods hit airport, close to city center
A local resident swims with a mobile phone attached to his head in floodwaters after a mud and sandbag wall collapsed in Bang Bua Thong in Nonthaburi province, suburban Bangkok, on October 19, 2011. Thailand’s premier urged the kingdom’s rival political factions on October 19 to work together to tackle the worst floods in decades.
Flood waters are threatening to hit the center of Thailand’s capital, Bangkok, with residents of six more districts told to move to higher ground, BBC reports.
The floods reached Bangkok’s Don Muang Airport, home to the flood relief operation command. The command may now have to move to a new location, Bangkok’s governor said, CNN reports.
Read more at GlobalPost: Flooding the suburbs to save Bangkok
Another evacuation center, Thammasat University’s gymnasium has also been flooded and left without electricity. It is also being evacuated, CNN reports. To help the displaced residents, about 4,000 people will be bused to Rajamangala Stadium in central Bangkok with the help of 300-400 volunteers, CNN reports.
City Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra made a broadcast announcement Sunday evening, explaining the newly flooded areas and the latest evacuation centers. He said the flood waters could flow further south to more developed areas of the city, including Chatuchak weekend market, a popular tourist attraction, the Wall Street Journal reports.
Read more at GlobalPost: Bangkok disaster warning as draining begins
The Prime Minister, Yingluck Shinawatra, said the flood waters could last for a month or more due to the sheer volume of water that still needs to be drained through Bangkok into the Gulf of Thailand, WSJ reports.
“Bangkokians will have some impact as water will flow through canals,” said Yingluck, Bloomberg reports. “It is still unclear how long Bangkok people will be affected as there are many uncontrollable factors.”
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The prime minister warned that flood waters in the capital may reach more than three feet, Bloomberg reports. Residents have been stocking up on water, canned food and instant noodles. Yingluck warned people to move to high grounds and vowed to protect the city’s airports, power plants and major transport routes from flood waters sitting north of Bangkok, Bloomberg reports.