Bangkok flood defenses hold off peak coastal tides
Defenses shielding the center of Thailand's capital from the worst floods in nearly 60 years mostly held at critical peak tides today, but areas along the city's outskirts remained submerged along with much of the countryside.
Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said the floodwaters have started to recede after killing almost 400 people, submerging entire towns across the country's heartland and shuttering hundreds of factories over the last two months.
She urged citizens to let the crisis take its course as the floodwaters slowly drain to the sea, with Bangkok lying in their path.
"We have the good news that the situation in the central region has improved as runoff water gradually decreased," she said. "I thank people and urge them to be more patient in case this weekend is significant because of the high tide."
Bangkok residents watched the city's dikes and sandbag barriers warily as high tides pushed up the Chao Phraya River from the Gulf of Thailand, peaked just after 9 a.m. and in the late evening.
Saturday's tides had been described for a week as the greatest test of the capital's flood defenses since the northern deluge first approached Bangkok more than three weeks ago.
While some water doused streets and shops along the river, the morning tide fell short of the expected high predicted by the Thai navy and there was no major breach.
Higher than usual tides will last through Monday but are predicted at lower levels than Saturday's.
City official Adisak Kantee said the city's concrete barriers "are efficiently protecting Bangkok from deluge," though he said smaller, private dikes might yet fail. "The situation is so far under control," he said.
Overflows in recent days have lightly covered riverside streets from Chinatown to the famed Temple of the Emerald Buddha. But the white-walled royal Grand Palace was dry a day after being ringed by ankle-deep water, and the landmark remained open to tourists.
Many visitors carried parasols to protect themselves from the blistering tropical sunshine.
Yingluck said in her weekly radio address today that the government was trying to speed the drainage rate and water in the greater Bangkok area should recede within days.
While the streets of downtown Bangkok were bone-dry and bustling with taxis, restaurant-goers and tourists snapping pictures, areas along the city's outskirts saw flooding spread.
Seven of Bangkok's 50 districts -- all in the northern and western outskirts -- are heavily inundated. Eight other districts have seen less serious flooding.
