Porosity can reduce city flood effects

The rainy season, which officially began in May, combined with the La Niña effect, brings unusually heavy rains that leave several areas inundated.

- Nuntachart Ratanaburi

Worse, the climate change impact intensifies weather turbulences with intense, localised rainfall — known as “rain bombs” or cloudbursts — that may cause severe floods in areas with a poor drainage system.

We have to say, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) did quite well preparing for heavy downpours in the past months, such as through dredging canals, removing waste from waterways and cooking fat from drainage pipes. There are also active flood tunnels, and some are under construction. Yet, several areas still remain flood-prone. The sight of rain-related paralysed traffic underneath and on the Bang Na-Trat expressway, with a backlog 31km long, during a major rain event in late May was indeed horrible.

Undeniably, rainy events remain a threat to several parts of Bangkok as the city is not porous enough. It's time for a change.