BANGKOK, Oct 12 – Chulalongkorn Uni

BANGKOK, Oct 12 – Chulalongkorn University’s Faculty of Engineering has allayed concerns on this year’s flooding and assured that the situation would not be as severe as in 2011.
Associate Professor Sucharit Koontakakulvong, head of Water Resources Engineering Department, said only limited areas have been hit by floods this year, including Prachin Buri, Chachoengsao, Ayutthaya and areas outside anti-flood dykes on the banks of the Chao Phraya River. Heavy rains are the only reason for this year’s floods while the flooding in the Central Plains should ease within this month and in the Eastern region by the middle of next month, he said. However, he urged people to be on alert for the movement of tropical storm Nari and rising waters next week while southern people especially in Prachuab Kirikhan, Chumphon, Surat Thani and Nakhon Si Thammarat should also be prepared for possible flashfloods. Chulalongkorn University has launched a new website, http://thaicrisis.chula.ac.th, to regularly report on the flooding situation, announcing that data and information are updated daily. (MCOT online news)