Website to monitor Thailand floods

BANGKOK, 31 July 2012: Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said the government will set up a website in three to four weeks that will present updates on flood prevention efforts.

“The website will contain technical details and explain on-going preventive flood measures that are due to be completed soon,” the prime minster said.

In addition, she defended the administration’s handling of the flood last year.

“We only came to power shortly before the disaster… there was no integrated command centre for a dozen agencies handling various parts of the official response. Machines and infrastructure were also not ready to cope with a flood of such magnitude.”

She said 2,800 new dykes would be completed by the end of August to mitigate the effects of a possible flood this year.

Last June, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration office launched a website called “BKK Flood Watch” to provide online updates on flood threats and preventative measures.

However, the website www.bangkokgis.com/bkkfloodwatch/index.php has limited use as a communications channel between city officials and Bangkok residents who want to keep themselves updated on flood warnings. Also, there is no English language version of the site.

It does identify BMA progress on protecting the city from floods as well as how many canals have been dredged to improve water flow.

The BMA’s own website www.bangkok.go.th has a link to BKK Flood Watch for easy access and offers wider information about BMA activities.