Agriculture Minister Theera Wongsamut said the largest massof runoff water flowing southward had passed through Bangkok's Chao Phrayariver and into the Gulf of Thailand, and that the river's levels would rise nohigher. He stopped short of saying the threat to Bangkok had passed completely.
The capital is being shielded by an elaborate system offlood walls, canals, dikes and underground tunnels. But if any of the defensesfail, floodwaters could begin seeping into the city of 9 million people.
"People have faith these walls will work," asaffron-robed monk named Pichitchai said as he peaked over stacks of sandbagsadded in recent days to help protect a Buddhist temple along a canal innorthwestern Bangkok. The 36-year-old uses only one name.
The agriculture minister said floodwaters in the provincesof Singburi, Angthong and hard-hit Ayutthaya have begun to recede, signalingthat the pressure on the capital could ease.
"I can confirm that the highest possible level of waterhas already subsided," Theera told reporters. "The water level in theChao Phraya will not be higher than the barriers."
Relentless monsoon rains that began inundating the countryin late July have affected two-thirds of the country, drowning agriculturalland, swamping hundreds of factories and swallowing low-lying villages alongthe way.
Nearly 300 people have been killed so far, while more than200 major highways and roads have been shut along with the main rail lines tothe north. The government says property damage and losses could reach $3billion dollars. The most affected provinces are just north of Bangkok,including Ayutthaya, which is home to a series of ancient and treasured stonetemples. Water there and in other towns has risen in some places six-feet-high(two-meters-high), forcing thousands of people to abandon their homes.
Despite widespread fears that disaster could touch Bangkok,the giant city has so far been mostly untouched.
Speaking late Saturday, Bangkok Gov. Sukhumbhand Paribatrasaid he was worried about barriers on the northwest side of the capital, sayingthey were not as strong as in other parts of Bangkok and water could floodaround them and into the city from the west. But on Sunday, he said thesituation was still under control.
An Associated Press team that traveled to that area Sundayfound no serious flooding in the district bordering on neighboring Nonthaburiand Nokhon Pathom provinces. Canals were not overflowing and, although someresidents were still reinforcing sandbag walls, few were worried.
Over the last few days, government officials have voicedincreasing confidence the capital would survive without major damage. OnSunday, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra echoed those sentiments again,saying "I believe Bangkok will be safe."
Yingluck spoke just after presiding over a ceremony in whichan armada of more than 1,000 small boats stationed in dozens of spots on theChao Phraya turned on their engines in an effort to help propel water down theriver. It wasn't immediately clearly what impact the effort would have.