[Post 1642] From ‘Venice of the East’ to flood-prone Bangkok: What changed?

Summary

Eight people have died in flooding in Thailand since Sep 16 following heavy rains, the government said on Sep 28. More than 552,000 households and 1.7 million people across Bangkok and 27 provinces have been affected by flooding. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said water levels had stabilised, although schools remain closed and people have been urged to work from home. Landscape architect Kotchakorn Voraakhom says decades of urban development have reduced Bangkok’s ability to absorb and store water. She discusses on CNA’s Asia First why the capital city – once known as the Venice of the East – must rethink how it deals with flooding as extreme rainfall and rising sea levels pose growing challenges. Read more: https://cna.asia/4iRl1fx