Thailand Seeks United States Help To Deal With Floods

 

By Jamaluddin Muhammad

BANGKOK (NNN-Bernama) -- Thailand has sought help from the United States to deal with its critical flood situation.

Foreign Minister Dr Surapong Tovichakchaikul said today, Bangkok had requested Washington to send its Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to facilitate disaster relief and emergency assistance.

"FEMA's experience in dealing with disaster, coupled with its technological expertise, could facilitate our response to the flood situation now," he said.

FEMA, an agency of the US Department of Homeland, is widely known for its capabilities in coordinating response to disasters, ranging from flood, hurricane to nuclear threats.

Justice Minister Pol Gen Pracha Promnok, who is also Flood Relief Operation Command director, said the Netherlands Government had also sent experts to help Thailand address its flood problem in the long term.

On the flood situation in Bangkok, Pracha said the floodwater run-off from the northern and central regions was expected to reach the capital tomorrow, adding that the authorities were confident the city would be safe as the situation was under control.

He said the run-off water level from Chao Phraya River would be between 2.3 and 2.4 metres, lower than the 2.5 metre-high floodwalls in the capital.

"Therefore, Bangkok is safe," he said.

Royal Irrigation Department Director-General Chalit Damrongsak said the run-off flow would be 3,600 cubic metres per second, lower than the earlier projection of 3,800 cubic metres per second.

Bangkok Metropolitan Authority yesterday gave an assurance that the Bangkok floodwalls were strong as they were made of reinforced concrete as compared to temporary floodwalls made of sandbags which have been breached in Ayutthaya, Nakhon Sawan and Phatum Thani.

Pracha said the flood situation in the capital was stable now although it faced threat of floodwater run-off, rain and high sea tide between today and

Sunday.

He said no new area had been affected by the floods, apart from parts of eastern Bangkok in the district of Ladkrabang, Sai Mai, Jarakhea Yai, Nongjok, Minburi and Pravate.

The Suvarnabhumi International Airport, which is located in eastern Bangkok, is currently, safe from the floods. --NNN-BERNAMA