Soldiers, sandbags defend Bangkok from floods

AFP

Homes stand in flood waters during the ongoing floods in Lop Buri province north of Bangkok.

Bangkok - Thousands of sandbags piled alongside a canal on the northern edge of Bangkok form the last line of defence between the city of 12 million people and a wall of floodwater bearing down on the capital.

The emergency dyke is part of huge efforts to keep Thailand's worst floods in decades from pouring into the densely populated city from the central plains, which are several metres under water in places.

If the defences give way, 72-year-old Chalam Khetrum's house will be one of the first in the path of the muddy waters.

“I've added more sandbags in my backyard because the water came through the back first. At the front the barrier's still holding up but if it breaks I'll be in big trouble,” said Chalam, who lives just south of the flood barrier.

Inner Bangkok has so far escaped major flooding as the authorities divert water to areas outside the main city in a bid to prevent the Chao Phraya River bursting its banks and flooding the political and economic heartland.

The capital was bracing for a large amount of run-off water along with seasonal high tides that were making it harder for the flood waters to flow out to sea.

Sandbags have been piled in front of homes and businesses in preparation for possible inundation, and some residents have chosen to leave their vehicles in multi-storey carparks while stocking up on food, water and flashlights.

The authorities called in the military to bolster the floodwalls and said they were confident they could prevent severe inundation in the centre of the low-lying capital.

“The flood protection wall is 4.3 metres high,” Therdthum Wongkalasin, a civil engineer with the government's irrigation department, said as he surveyed the last line of defence.

“We can put up more sandbags to increase the wall height. We can say Bangkok is safe because we now have a lot of help from soldiers.”

On the other side of the flood defences, in the flood-stricken province of Pratum Thani, Chanvut Wongphet's home has been inundated for several days.

He built a concrete wall almost half a metre high at the entrance but the waist-high water is still leaking through, and his family is working the water pump on round-the-clock shifts.

In the streets near his home, boats have replaced cars.

He said he understood why the government focused its efforts on keeping Bangkok dry, but feared things could get even worse for him.

“They're trying to protect the area which will affect the country the most. I accept that but the aid still needs to keep coming to the people who are already in trouble,” the 45-year-old said.

“We can live now but what I'm worried about is if the electricity and water are cut. It will be difficult. I won't be able to pump water out and the flood will leak into my house and we will have to live on the second floor.”

Even inside the flood barriers, many residents are moving belongings to the second floor despite the government's reassurances.

“I sometimes wake up during the night to see if everything is OK. I've packed up and moved everything I can to the second floor,” said Chalam.

“Whatever happens, happens. But I still believe it will be OK because they can't let the wall collapse otherwise Bangkok will be under water,” she added. - Sapa-AFP