KULTIDA SAMABUDDHI<noscript><a href="http://ads.admaxasia.com/servlet/ajrotator/367737/0/cc?z=admaxasia2"><img src="http://ads.admaxasia.com/servlet/ajrotator/367737/0/vc?z=admaxasia2&dim=280733&abr=$imginiframe" width="300" height="250" border="0"></a></noscript>
Climate and ocean experts have warned that several coastal provinces on the Gulf of
Thailand could be devastated by a storm surge. This is a phenomenon associated with low weather pressure, which sees sea water levels rise offshore and can cause flash flooding when the tide reaches land.
Samut Prakan province is particularly vulnerable, as it is a major business area which neighbours
Bangkok and is home to
Suvarnabhumi Airport. But at more immediate risk are Prachuap Khiri Khan,
Chumphon,
Surat Thani in the South, and Trat, Chantaburi and Rayong in the East, said Anond Snidvongs, director of climate research agency START.
''The storm surge, if it does happen, will hit these provinces first, not
Samut Prakan, '' said Mr Anond, who teaches at Chulalongkorn University's marine science department.
Mr Anond's comment followed a remark on Wednesday by chairman of the national disaster warning committee Smith Dharmasarojana that provinces in the inner Gulf of
Thailand, particularly
Samut Prakan were at risk of storm surge.
According to Mr Smith, storm surge was a possibility between this month and September. He said strong winds could causing the ocean's surface water to pile up higher than the ordinary sea level and surge against the shoreline.
He said such a storm could generate waves of 2.2 to 4.5 metres high, which could flatten coastal communities.
Mr Smith, also an expert at the National Disaster Warning Centre, also said a storm surge in the Gulf could cause greater damage than the one triggered by Cyclone Nargis did to the central plain of Burma in early May.
Mr Anond admitted it was possible that
Samut Prakan could be hit by storm surge, but insisted the focus should be on the southern and eastern Gulf coast, rather than the inner regions.
Records show
Samut Prakan has not experienced storm surge in the past century, while southern and eastern provinces have been hit by several, he noted.
However he said he did not believe the phenomenon would hit
Thailand anytime soon.
''Not every storm can trigger tidal surge. Only storms bigger than depressions, such as typhoons or cyclones, have the potential to cause it, '' he said, adding that the number of typhoons passing over Thai waters had decreased in recent years, possibly as a result of global warming.
He added that storm surge in the Gulf generally occurs when there is an El Nino episode in the Pacific Ocean, since an increase in sea temperature can add to the force of storms.
There has been no El Nino activity this year and it is not yet known if it will occur next year, said Mr Anond.
''But it is better to be prepared [for a tidal surge], '' he added.
Mr Smith yesterday called on concerned agencies to come up with comprehensive strategy to mitigate the impact of storm surge.
He suggested a long sea wall be built in coastal areas to protect
Bangkok and its neighbouring provinces against the tidal surges.
The wall should be about 4 to 5 metres high and built from materials that could resist the mighty waves.
Mr Smith earlier proposed the construction of a 30-billion-baht wall with a total length of 83 to 100 kilometres.
It would be erected between Phetchaburi's
Cha-am district and Chachoengsao's Bang Pakong district, which face the Gulf of
Thailand.
He said the government should seriously look into storm surge prevention measures to avoid repeating the devastation of Typhoon Gay, which generated powerful tides that ravaged southern communities in 1989.
Somchai Baimuang, of the Meteorological Department, said the agency had not detected any signs of tropical storms which had the potential to trigger tidal surge in the near future.
The agency typically issues tropical storm warnings seven days ahead of their arrival, so there would be enough time for people in risk areas to evacuate if a tidal surge is triggered
