Thailand braces for floods,lay bricks, sandbags

BANGKOK: Businesses blocked doors with sandbags and bricks on Tuesday as Thailand’s southwestern Petchaburi province braced for flooding over fears that a dam in the area could overflow.

Local media showed residents in Petchaburi, 168 km (104 miles) from Bangkok, laying bricks outside shops and buffering entrances to banks with sandbags.

Thailand is in the middle of its rainy season which often generates flash storms. The Meteorological Department said more storms are expected between Aug 7-9.

Thailand suffered its worst floods in half a century in 2011. The floods killed more than 900 people, crippled industry, and dented economic growth.

Officials said they are confident that water levels at the Kaeng Krachan Dam and any water run-off can be managed.

“Four districts could be affected … The governor and local administration are preparing sandbags and water pumps,” Interior Minister Anupong Paochinda told reporters in Bangkok on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha is due to visit Petchaburi on Wednesday.

Tourists visiting Petchaburi, which is near the Gulf of Thailand and is home to many seaside resorts, will be warned.

“Operators and resort owners are aware of the situation. We will send an alert to tourists,” Tourism Minister Weerasak Kowsurat told reporters.

In neighboring Laos, 31 people have been confirmed dead and 130 are still missing after a part of the hydroelectric project in the southern province of Attapeu collapsed last month.

The company building the dam has said heavy rain and flooding caused the collapse.