Thailand - Ocean surges slowing down flood drainage: expert

Flood run-offs from Bangkok and other provinces in the Central region are moving south toward the estuaries of Chao Phraya River at a slower speed because there is a mild ocean surge, a water-management expert told a seminar in the capital yesterday.

Royol Jitdon, member of a government water-management committee, said data collected at the Chulachomklao Fort showed that the surge was 40 centimetres above sea level.

He said he had known about these surges all along but had chosen not to speak about it publicly because he did not wish to cause panic.

Phisit Phiboolsiri, an official with the Samut Sakhon irrigation department, also said that news about the ocean surges had been kept under wraps for fear it would scare away foreign investors thinking of setting up operations in the coastal province.

He said one of the factors contributing to the higher surge is a monsoon - the first in recent years - travelling north from the Gulf of Thailand and hitting winter winds from China. "The surges and this monsoon will make flood and water management more difficult," Phisit said.

The monsoon, which might return next year, would have a greater effect in coastal areas that do not have mangroves to absorb ocean surges, Royol said, adding that many government agencies were aware of this natural phenomenon but could do nothing to prevent it.

He said that due to the surges, flood drainage would take longer and might even be extended to the third week of December.

Meanwhile, the government's flood-prevention committee yesterday urged the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to speed up the clearing of canals in eastern Bangkok and on the Thon Buri side.

Committee member Uthen Chartphinyo also said that the BMA should dredge up canals linking western Bangkok with Tha Chin River to speed up the flow of water.

The Nation/Asia News Network

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