Since July, over 300 people have died from monsoon-caused floods in Thailand which have submerged about one-third of the country in water. And now, the worst flooding in Thailand in the past 50 years and its water levels are threatening to break through flood barriers set up around the country’s capital city of Bangkok.
According to several posts and blogs, the flooding has gotten so bad that even sheltered areas in the city designated for flooding evacuees are being evacuated.
Worst Flooding in Decades
Monsoon season happens every year in Southeast Asia. But this particular summer, the rains and storms have been especially unrelenting as the region has been hit by multiple rain storms and typhoons in succession.
And the product of all this water and havoc? Well, over 700 people have died in Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, and the Philippines. Also, thousands of homes have been lost, and hundreds of families have been rendered homeless as well.
Even worse, Thailand’s prime minister, Kittiratt Na-Ranong, believes the flood threat and imminence could last for another month or so before things start to diet down. “We have to admit that we are in crisis,” Na-Ranong said to the media. “Everybody must be prepared.”
Na-Ranong urged Bangkok citizens to prepare for the worst and to set up a plan of what they will do and where they will go if their neighborhood were to become submerged by the flood water.
Other Issues
Currently, one of the biggest issues that needs to be taken care of outside of holding the flood waters back, is that of food shortages. The storms have destroyed thousands of acres of farmland and rice paddies, making it difficult for the country to supply its people with the nourishment they need to stay healthy and well fed.
Not only that, but emergency crews and aid support teams are having a tough time getting to affected areas because of typhoon-damaged roads which have become near impassable.
Also, multinational corporations such as Ford and Toyota have had to suspend and close down factories in Thailand due to the flooding, leading to major financial losses.
What’s Being Done to Mitigate The Flooding
As we speak, crews are working around-the-clock to install three more flood barriers and five more canals around the capital city in hopes that the plan will increase drainage and keep Bangkok relatively dry-free.
If all goes according to plan, the barriers will hopefully keep the flood waters back until they subside to a point where the city can start breathing a bit again.
Only time will tell whether or not this disaster takes a turn for the worse or better. Stay tuned to news reports to learn about further events which are sure to take place in the coming days.
Adam Gilson cameru says:
The population built up quickly going from a few in sheltered grassy areas to numbers that are in epic proportions.