Thai Flood Waters Reach Bangkok Airport After
Government Warning
Floodwaters that devastated parts of northern and
central Thailand have reached one of the capital’s
two main airports, where the government has its main
flood relief center. Thai authorities have said Don
Muang airport in northern Bangkok has not been
affected, but warned six central districts of the
city to prepare for flooding, including the
airport.
Eyewitnesses say flood waters are within meters of
Bangkok’s main domestic airport, Don Muang, in a
northern district that goes by the same name. Though
the water at the airport is only shoe deep, it is
expected to rise.
Run-off from weeks of record flooding in Thailand's
northern and central plains has been swelling the
city's canals and Bangkok's Chao Phraya River.
Authorities have struggled to contain spill-overs
and leaks by reinforcing dikes.
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Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra has
warned residents of six districts, including
Don Muang, they could soon be flooded and
should move to higher ground. Thai authorities have been using the airport to coordinate flood-relief and prevention efforts, raising the embarrassing possibility that they too could be flooded. |
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But
flood-relief spokesman Sean Boonpracong told VOA the
airport should be safe and they have no need to
leave for now.
“The
water will come in with a certain characteristic of
this type of level and then build a certain amount
of depth at the level, which will take some time,"
said Boonpracong. "There will probably be a bit
overnight. That front of the mass of water would
move much much further before the level go way, way,
way up. And, that will take at least two days. We
are aware of the situation and we will make a
decision accordingly.”
One of
the airport's passenger terminals is also being used
to house hundreds of people evacuated from flooded
houses.
Pontipat Chansurawong, 47, and her four family
members fled their home in Rangsit, just north of
Bangkok. She says they have been living in the
airport for two days and will not return until the
waste-deep waters recede.
“Until it is normal. No water. Maybe one or two
months. Later, I do not know. Now, I do not know
about the future,” she said.
It is not only people who lost their homes and have
to live at the airport.
A makeshift animal shelter at Don Muang houses about
100 dogs, cats, and other animals.
“Yes, we have plenty of food," said Dr. Aphiradi, a
volunteer veterinarian, who says their greatest
challenge is space. "But the thing that we are
lacking is the place for the dog, the kennel.
Because we have the problem with the big dog.”
The airport has reached its capacity for evacuees,
and despite their losses they are still working to
keep their spirits up.
Two families with small children dance together near
a speaker playing music.
More than 100,000 people are living in similar
evacuation centers in Thailand. They know it could
be days or even weeks before they return to their
normal lives.
More rain is expected and high tide at the end of
the month could slow down draining of flood waters
into the sea. The floods are the worst in decades
and have cost more than 350 lives and an estimated
$6 billion.
