Floodwaters in Bangkok Expected to Recede Within Two to Three Days

BANGKOK: Floodwaters in Bangkok are expected to recede within two to three days if there is no continuous heavy rainfall, said Prime Minister’s Office spokesperson Dr Ekkapob Pianpises.

He said pumping stations and drainage tunnels operated by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) are running around the clock to accelerate the drainage of floodwaters.

“Water pumps are operating 24 hours a day to discharge water into the Chao Phraya River at an average rate of 50 million cubic metres per day.

“If there is no continuous heavy rainfall, floodwaters in Bangkok are expected to recede within two to three days,” he said when announcing the outcome of a special Cabinet meeting on flood response and relief measures on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Ekkapob said the Thai government had also established a Joint Information and Communication Centre (JICC) to coordinate official information on the flood situation and ensure consistent updates to the public.

He said the centre, established following Sunday’s special Cabinet meeting, would provide daily briefings and real-time updates on the Thai Khu Fah Facebook page, covering weather conditions, water levels, affected areas, traffic routes and government assistance.

Ekkapob said Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul had instructed relevant agencies to coordinate their operations, with the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) and the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) monitoring water levels and drainage, while the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) and BMA handle public warnings and evacuation support.

The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) will provide concise weather updates, while the Public Relations Department and state-owned broadcaster MCOT will coordinate public communications with the Prime Minister’s Office.

“The government has also instructed the Defence Ministry to deploy military trucks to assist with the evacuation of residents and the transportation of belongings, while relevant agencies have been directed to ensure that water pumps and machinery are ready for deployment, as well as to assist vulnerable groups and bedridden patients,” he said.

BERNAMA