Bangkok Flood Latest News: 400 Dead; Saturday's Peak Tide to Destroy City's Defenses

By CP News Briefs, Friday, October 28, 2011

Thailand’s worst floods in 60 years are set to bring Bangkok’s flood defenses to a breaking point Saturday as coastal high tides are set to reach their peak.

A crest is expected in the high tides Saturday morning meaning that Bangkok’s Chao Phraya river could extensively flood the city. Until now the river has only lightly flooded the neighboring streets, but Saturday could see a much more drastic flood hit the city.

Residents of Bangkok are desperately trying to prepare for the peak tides. Most residents have made their way to beach resorts that haven't been impacted by the floods. However, some of the remaining residents are facing a water shortage.

According to a spokeswoman for Save the Children: "We are hearing disturbing reports of dangerous animals such as snakes and crocodiles appearing in the floodwaters and every day we see children playing in the water, bathing or wading through it trying to make their way to dry ground.”

One store has sold more than 3,000 boats in the last week, and many residents in the suburbs of Bangkok have reported that they are only able to access their homes by boat now.

Floodwalls protecting inner-city Bangkok are 2.5 meters high. However, Saturday’s peak tides are expected to be 2.6 meters; giving the potential for devastating flooding throughout the city.

Three months of monsoons have resulted in the worst flooding in Thailand in 60 years.

The water has been coming in from the Gulf of Thailand over the past few weeks and has submerged a third of the country.

The tides have killed almost 400 people and displaced more than 100,000, according to AP.