The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) failed to respond to advance warnings of a potential flood crisis, climate expert Assoc Prof Seree Supratid said.
Assoc Prof Seree of Rangsit University’s Centre for Climate Change and Disaster and a member of the National Disaster Warning Centre said the centre sent warnings to the BMA about the risk of serious flooding in the capital between Sept 22 and 26.
However, he said the BMA provided no feedback on the warnings. No BMA representatives attended the centre’s meetings to receive updates or discuss the developing situation, he added.
He said the lack of response highlighted the importance of effective local warning systems in limiting losses of life and property. He said local administrations must provide timely and clear alerts so residents can prepare for flooding.
Bangkok has advanced technology and equipment for flood management, but the September flooding undermined public confidence because preventive measures were not used effectively, he said. He also warned of another potential flood risk from heavy rain expected during Oct 13-15 as a low-pressure system develops. He urged local administrations to prepare for the possibility of heavy rainfall coinciding with northern runoff and rising sea levels.
He said an “accumulated crisis” would eventually occur, although its timing could not be predicted, and urged the government to establish retention areas to hold water.