BANGKOK, Thailand — Advancing flood waters in Thailand breached barriers protecting Bangkok’s second-largest airport Tuesday, halting commercial flights, as the prime minister warned that the capital could be swamped by up to 5 feet of water if flood walls fail.
The flooding at Don Muang Airport, which is primarily used for domestic flights, is one of the biggest blows yet to government efforts to prevent the sprawling capital from being inundated. Its effective closure is certain to further erode public confidence in the ability of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra’s administration to defend the increasingly anxious metropolis of 9 million people.
By this morning, more than 1,000 people taking shelter there had fled as water continued to build around the terminal.
Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi Airport, the country’s main international gateway, has yet to be affected by flooding, and flights there were operating normally. Most of the city has been spared inundation so far.
Yingluck’s government declared a five-day public holiday Tuesday in affected areas, including Bangkok, while the Education Ministry ordered schools to close until Nov. 7.
The prime minister warned in a televised address that in a worst-case scenario, the pressure of flood waters pushing downstream into the city could combine with monthly high tides Friday and Saturday to overwhelm recently reinforced flood walls and embankments protecting the city.
That could result in flooding of up to 5 feet in low-lying areas of the capital, she said.
Bangkok Gov. Suhumbhand Paribatra said the capital cannot escape flooding and warned residents of 13 districts along the Chao Phraya River, the city’s biggest waterway, to be prepared.
The Southeast Asian nation has seen advancing waters inundate a third of the country and kill 373 people over the past three months.
Don Muang Airport houses the government’s recently established emergency Flood Relief Operations Center, and one of its terminals has been converted into an overcrowded shelter filled with tents for about 4,000 people who fled waterlogged homes.
Somboon Klinchanhom, a 43-year-old civil servant who took refuge there last week, was preparing to move after authorities said the terminal had become too crowded, and thousands of people displaced there would be relocated.
“I thought it would be safe and well-protected,” Somboon said of the airport, as she packed her belongings again.
Though flood waters have yet to spill across Don Muang’s runways, ankle-high water could be seen Tuesday rushing over sandbagged barriers around the airport’s perimeter, swamping internal roads. One vast pool was spreading toward two jetliners parked outside a hangar, their wheels wrapped in plastic sheets.
Capt. Kantpat Mangalasiri, the airport’s director, said Don Muang’s commercial runways would be closed until next Tuesday to ensure safe aircraft operations.
Thai air force relief flights were continuing on a military runway that is still open, air force spokesman Montol Suchukorn said. He said flood waters had breached the military’s air base, but the runway remains protected by flood barriers.
Last week, the air force moved 20 planes from Don Muang as a precaution.
The government’s flood-relief command will remain at the airport for now since it is still accessible by road, spokesman Wim Rungwattanajinda said.
The scene at the domestic terminal was chaotic as throngs of confused passengers struggled to leave or pulled up to the departure hall with luggage, unaware that their flights had been canceled.
Some travelers waited hours for a ride as airlines scrambled to arrange special buses.
Last week, Yingluck ordered key floodgates opened to help drain runoff through urban canals to the sea, but there is concern that rising tides in the Gulf of Thailand this weekend will slow outflows and flood the city.
Information for this article was contributed by Vee Intarakratug of The Associated Press.
Front Section, Pages 8 on 10/26/2011