“The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) is readying a fleet of 80 boats to help push water from the Chao Phraya River into the sea to relieve the flooding in the Greater Bangkok areas, said Vice Admiral Pokkrong Monthatpalin on Friday.
Areas across the capital have suffered floods from heavy downpours since Thursday evening. Major routes inundated include Rangsit-Pathum Thani, Chaeng Watthana, Pracha Uthit, Bangna-Trat (Debaratana), Ramkhamhaeng and Lat Krabang roads.
Pokkrong said that all RTN disaster mitigation units have been ordered to deploy personnel and equipment to help flood victims in Bangkok and surrounding provinces. They will use boats to deliver food and supplies to communities cut off by floodwater.
The Navy will also coordinate with local authorities to issue Thai Meteorological Department (Thai Met) warnings and survey the level of damage to properties so that timely aid is provided.
Victims can call the Navy’s flood-relief hotline at 1696, he added.