CHINA News - Flood concerns in Thai capital dismissed, Oct 16, 2011

A local citizen walks on temporary wooden board above flooded water towards Si Phraaya Pier in Bangkok, Oct. 16, 2011. Thai Agriculture Minister Theera Wongsamut assured on Sunday that Bangkok would be safe from flooding formerly expected on weekend as northern runoff from upstream has already passed Bangkok and drifted into sea. Speaking at Sunday's press conference at the National Flood Relief Center set up to cope with the worst flooding in decades, the minister said that water peaked Saturday at 2.29 meters against the 2.5-meter flood barrier height. (Xinhua/Song Zhenping)

BANGKOK, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Thai Agriculture Minister Theera Wongsamut assured on Sunday that Bangkok would be safe from flooding formerly expected on weekend as northern runoff from upstream has already passed Bangkok and drifted into sea.

Speaking at Sunday's press conference at the National Flood Relief Center set up to cope with the worst flooding in decades, the minister said that water peaked Saturday at 2.29 meters against the 2.5-meter flood barrier height.

The center earlier expressed concerns over the high level of the Choa Praya River forecast to reach 2.3 meters on Sunday caused by runoff from the north, coinciding with the period of high tide.

Meanwhile, Royal Irrigation Department Director-General Chalit Damrongsak added that from this day on, the water level in Chao Phraya River would stabilise while water from upstream would be diverted to the East of Bangkok.

However, the director-general warned that sea tide was forecasted to reach its peak again during Oct. 28-30. He therefore asked people not to demolish flood protection walls but to reinforce them for a certain period of time.

Since late July, the country has been facing with widespread and longstanding floods caused by heavy monsoon and tropical storms. Two-thirds of the whole country have been affected while nearly 300 people were killed. Hundreds of businesses were forced to close, resulting in job suspension of over 300,000 employees.