Thailand braces for storms, but severe floods unlikely
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This file picture taken on Nov 30, 2011 shows a Buddhist monk cleaning up an area at a temple inundated by flood waters in Don Muang district, in Bangkok. Thailand can expect a few tropical cyclones that may bring heavy rain and flash floods in August and September, but it is unlikely to see a repeat of the deluge that killed more than 800 people and devastated the economy over several months in 2011, government officials said on Thursday. -- PHOTO: AFP
BANGKOK (REUTERS) - Thailand can expect a few tropical cyclones that may bring heavy rain and flash floods in August and September, but it is unlikely to see a repeat of the deluge that killed more than 800 people and devastated the economy over several months in 2011, government officials said on Thursday.
Last year's floods, the worst in 50 years, were caused by exceptionally heavy rain and the mismanagement of dams in the north.
Better infrastructure and reservoirs with spare capacity could help prevent major flooding this year, the officials said.
"At this stage, we can say that we won't face the severe floods we had last year," said a member of the government-run Commission of Water and Flood Management, Anont Sanitwong na Ayutthaya.
