High tides spark overflow warnings for Bangkok, six central provinces

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has issued an advisory for Bangkok and six central provinces over potential waterway overflows and flooding caused by high tides for seven days from tomorrow.

Teerapat Kachamat, the DDPM director general, announced yesterday that the advisory follows an alert from the Royal Thai Navy’s Hydrographic Department regarding the water level in the Chao Phraya River, particularly around the Royal Thai Navy Headquarters, Phra Chulachomklao Fort, and adjacent areas.

The navy forecast that high tides over the next week, particularly between 6pm and midnight, could increase water levels in the Chao Phraya River to well above normal.

Areas at risk include low-lying communities along rivers and canals, properties outside permanent flood walls and zones lacking permanent coastal defenses.

The DDPM has also specified the districts being closely monitored:

· Bangkok: Vulnerable areas along the Chao Phraya River

· Pathum Thani: Mueang and Sam Khok districts

· Nonthaburi: Mueang, Pak Kret, and Bang Kruai districts

· Nakhon Pathom: Bang Len, Nakhon Chai Si, and Sam Phran districts

· Samut Prakan: Mueang, Phra Samut Chedi, Phra Pradaeng, and Bang Bo districts

· Samut Sakhon: All districts

· Samut Songkhram: All districts

The Central Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Command has instructed local authorities in the affected provinces and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to monitor water levels around the clock.

Relevant officials have been told to keep the public informed of peak tide times and to issue direct alerts to businesses operating along waterways, such as riverside restaurants, raft operators, companies managing embankment construction sites, as well as residents in low-lying, high-risk zones, advising them to keep track of official updates.