(Image Source: Xinhua)

BY ADNAN S. KHAN

ANCHOR ANTHONY MARTINEZ

Bangkok is on high alert as the worst flood in 50 years inches closer to the capital of Thailand. Bangkok Post has the details on the extent of the flooding.

“Flooding continues to affect 25 provinces including Bangkok, and the flood toll has risen to 506, with two people missing … About one million families, or more than three million people have been affected.”

And The Wall Street Journal reports, one of Bangkok’s major tourist attraction ‘Safari World,’ a massive 500 acre zoo, is already seeing signs of flooding. One of the zoo executives told the Journal they are not evacuating.

“We have thousands of wild animals, and a big truck can only take five or six giraffes at time … Where would you find 500 acres of healthy soil, electricity, staff, medical facilities? … It’s not feasible.”

Then there are animals that aren’t in the cages. Al Jazeera reports people have had run in with crocodiles and other reptiles, but many are still refusing to evacuate to far from their homes.

“The people here have lost their homes to the flood waters but they don’t want to leave to evacuation centers because they say they are too far away from their houses. They would rather stay and be close to their homes so they can go back to check on them. So they choose to live in areas like this beneath bridges. However now they’re too scared to go into the floodwaters. Teams have been formed to hunt the animals, but for now the thought of what is lurking in the water is keeping many people out.”

Food and water supplies are running short and the government is having trouble setting up distribution centers. The Financial Times reports a distribution center set up last Tuesday was flooded within 24 hours. The same article commends Thai peoples ingenuity and charity in dealing with this difficult situation.

“Those in inundated areas who can’t get hold of boats have fashioned rafts from chunks of polystyrene or plastic tubs. Snake catchers are advertising their services over Twitter amid fears about the vast numbers of reptiles prowling through the murky flood waters.”