Bangkok braces for flooding

BANGKOK, Oct. 15 Bangkok prepared for possible heavy flooding, draining canals and digging new ones, building dykes, reinforcing barriers and piling sandbags, officials said.The BBC reported officials view the next few days as critical, as high tides and bad weather combine with runoff water from northern Thailand threatening the capital city.

Authorities were working to reinforce an estimated 2.5-mile flood barrier along Khlong Rangsit canal in tambon Lak Hok of Pathum Thani and Chulalongkorn sluice gate in Pathum Thani, the Bangkok Post reported.They're the last two flood-prevention barriers to prevent overflow from inundation elsewhere from entering Bangkok.

Bangkok's main canals have been drained and troops were digging new canals so water could flow to the sea, while thousands of sandbags were being piled in the city.On Friday, the government ordered the army to build additional dykes near Phra-in sluice gate to keep overflow from heading downstream into Bangkok. 

"We are confident of controlling the water flowing to Bangkok and the capital will not be affected by floods except in areas outside the dykes," said Justice Minister Pracha Promnok, chief of the flood relief center.

Northern and central provinces have been deluged since flooding triggered by heavy monsoon rains began in late July. Flood waters have submerged entire villages and 297 people were confirmed dead and two were missing, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said Saturday. Flooding has affected more than 2.3 million people, the department said.

The BBC said the flooding has also disrupted China's economy as numerous factories, including Toyota and Honda, have suspended production because of damage to facilities or disruption of local supply chains.The British broadcaster said neighboring Cambodia also endured heavy flooding in which almost 250 people have died.