Chonburi prepares for flooding worse than 2011

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With water levels expected to exceed last year, Chonburi is dredging canals and bolstering berms to prevent a repeat of last year’s devastating flooding.

Gov. Khomsan Ekachai toured Panthong and Phanasnikhom sub-districts April 8, inspecting clearing work being done on canals, marshes and creeks to accommodate flood water.

Chonburi Gov. Khomsan Ekachai (front left) discusses flood prevention methods with local officials in Panthong and Phanasnikhom sub-districts. Chonburi Gov. Khomsan Ekachai (front left) discusses flood prevention methods with local officials in Panthong and Phanasnikhom sub-districts.

Officials, he said, have been meeting to discuss both short term and long term flood-prevention measures to handle runoff in the Bangpakong and Klong Luang river basins, which were the source of the province’s biggest flood problems last year.

While Chonburi was spared the catastrophic flood damage inflicted on central Thailand and Bangkok, several districts did suffer substantial damage to agriculture and fishing. Khomsan said initial predictions are indicating river levels between August and October might exceed last year.