Bangkok governor apologizes for poor flood management

Source: Xinhua| 2017-05-26 22:27:56|Editor: ying
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BANGKOK, May 26 (Xinhua) -- Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang apologized to the public after the torrential rain in recent days left Bangkok flooded, local media Friday reported.

"I apologize for the bad consequences that people have suffered from the floods with no excuses. I've tried my best to manage the problem," Aswin said.

Officials of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has admitted that they are not able to cope well with floods after the heavy rains.

Aswin blames the city's poor drainage system that has a capacity to drain only 60 mm per hour of rainfalls.

Bangkok was hit by pounding rain that has lasted for seven hours on Wednesday night. Some parts of the capital has recorded an amount of rainfall of 169 mm per hour, which was the peak in about 20 years.

The floods paralyzed the traffic and forced several schools to close. Some places has eyed a depth of 30 cm of floodwater.

Experts said the poor infrastructure and lack of preparedness resulted in the floods.

BMA drainage and sewerage director Sompong Wiangkaew said the heavy rains were threefold more than the city's drainage system could cope with.

It's not the first time that Bangkok governor make apologize to the public due to their unsatisfactory management of floods after downpours.

In 2015, the then Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra has apologized to Bangkok residents, admitting that he was not capable to deal with the floods. He was asked to resign by discontented netizens.

Local media said that Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha would visit the flooded-prone areas, meanwhile, the government has deployed traffic easing teams from the army to help flood victims.

The rain will lessen, but last until Sunday, according to the Meteorological department.

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