Central Bangkok can flood up to 1.5m

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said yesterday that flood waters in some parts of Bangkok's capital could reach 1.5 meters.

"There is a possibility that floodwaters will flow through the center of Bangkok," Bloomberg quoted Yingluck as saying. "The severity of flooding will depend on the elevation of the area."

Water levels in some parts of central Bangkok could reach 1.5 meters if the dykes in the north of the capital were broken, the prime minister said. In most places, the height of the flood water is 50 cm.

The Thai government has announced a five-day holiday starting today for 21 provinces in the north and central regions, including Bangkok, to allow people time to prepare for floods. Banks and financial markets are still open.

A Bangkok resident caught the fish in the floodwaters. (Photo: AFP)

"We encourage Bangkok residents to shelter outside the city when the tide is high," Bangkok mayor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said, adding that it would be difficult to conduct a mass evacuation of 10 million people.

The water level rose even higher in the suburbs of Bangkok yesterday when 4 million cubic meters of water poured into the capital from the north, causing fears that flood barriers were no longer enough. The water level in the Chao Phraya River has risen to a peak of 2.3m, surpassing the peak of 2007 - 2.27m. Along this river are big hotels. Sukhumbhand mayor yesterday said Bangkok is 2 meters above sea level.

Prime Minister Yingluck has vowed to protect the evil airport, factory site and major transportation routes, but she said the flood situation could last for 6 weeks. Don Mueang, the second largest airport in the country and the focus of relief, was forced to close yesterday when the floodwaters rose.

At least 366 people died in the rainy season starting July 25. More than 100,000 people live in 1,700 temporary housing estates built by the government. These places can accommodate 800,000 people.

Floods may cause Thailand's economic growth to drop by 1% to less than 3% this year. The budget for reconstruction of the country could reach $ 3.2 billion.