Amid promises of a long-term flooding cure, Pattaya officials clear blocked storm runoff in Naklua

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City workers cleared sand blocking a stormwater drainage canal in Naklua, where heavy rains flooded the Naklua Market and Lan Po Park neighborhoods.

Pattaya Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay and Sanitation Department Director Wirat Jeerasriphathun visited the flooded areas June 13, the second of two days of storms. After discovering sand had piled up at the mouth of the meter-wide concrete and steel pipeline, Wirat ordered engineers to use a vacuum truck to suck out the debris.

Pattaya Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay and Sanitation Department Director Wirat Jeerasriphathun inspect the sand buildup under the Naklua flood runoff canal.Pattaya Deputy Mayor Verawat Khakhay and Sanitation Department Director Wirat Jeerasriphathun inspect the sand buildup under the Naklua flood runoff canal.

Wirat said flooding was widespread, with water as deep as 60cm along Sukhumvit Road in South Pattaya.

Verawat reassured residents that city hall was working on long-term flood mitigation by replacing meter-wide pipelines with three meter-wide pipes with sand-catch reservoirs. Work to lay the new pipes will begin by October, he said.

In the interim, residents needing sand bags can contact the Nongyai Waste Water Treatment Plant or call the Pattaya call center at 1337.