PierreLoubignac

At Minburi, a few minutes ago, people gathered beneath a bridge (at the end of Ramkhamhaeng Rd) to watch the klong's activity (don't know if it's Sam Wa or Saen Saep ritght there)... Seems like water is coming...

One observation: Most of the bitching about incompetency seem to come from the the people sitting high and dry in Bangkok.

Another observation: Most of the "let's spread the blame for all this around as much as possible, and let's not focus so much on the job the current government are doing NOW, in terms of flood management and aid and assistance", seems to be coming from those with a history of red/PTP sympathising. The same people who would, you can guarantee, have been tearing into the "Bangkok elite" and the Dems, were they the ones at the helm right now, and were they too, like this government, making a complete hash of things.

It's extremely difficult to evaluate precisely if what is done NOW by the government is effective : especially right now.

Evaluation comes after the disaster, with opposition, with experts etc... Right now, as you say, it's only political talks.

For those who were not prepared one week ago, this is already too late. There is no drinkin water anywhere and same thing for food.

There's no way the city's dry. People may just have to look a little bit further afield than usual.

There are also automatic water machines that can be used to fill plastic bottles... It can be of some help... before flooding water arrives.

OMG guys it's a massive flood, there is no quick solution. Ayuttaya has been under water for weeks now and still is, the water can't go away quickly because it keeps coming, the water is going to keep coming into Bangkok for weeks if not a month to come. There is no quick solution, there is no political solution, you can't stop a flood from happening like this one. It's going to happen and the water is going to come. be prepared, stock up on food sandbag what you can or get out of dodge. I honestly wonder how many people here pointing fingers are volunteering themselves to help with the situation.

You're saying that there's a massive flood so we shouldn't be on this forum, right ? well... Seems you are on it too.

I think you should keep your good morale for yourself... It doesn't help either.

Good luck with the floods

Cheers.

so why is there no such map available on the net?

Here are a few flood maps:

http://flood.longdo.com/en

http://ictgis.totidc.net/viewer/

crisislanding.appspot.com thailand_floods

Here'a a map of where it's currently raining: http://www.thairainmap.com

Does anyonw know of any altitude (or "elevation") above sea level maps?

There's one here where you can select one point on the map and get the altitude but it's currently unavailable (it was available and fully working yesterday...)

http://www.daftlogic.com/sandbox-google-maps-find-altitude.htm

I dont understand why there should be any violence towards foreigners living in Thailand due to the flood situation - or am I missing something here? Perhaps someone could explain.

Tense situation of the flooding + the idea that most people have that foreigners are rich = idea that foreigners are not as "hurt" by the flooding as Thais are

+ the idea that foreigners can leave whenever they want + idea that foreigners are only here to "exploit" Thailand etc...

= potential violences...

I am not talking of a massive trend but only local violences... and it is only a conjecture.

Evidently, as many comments underline it, important information is not given.

If we have to prepare for One meter to one meter and a half water surge from which "ground" to we have to count this height ? from the klong ? From the road ? from the sea level ? It makes huge differences for me as I am situated one meter more above the klong level but one meter under the road level...

There are a lot of different ground levels in one 'khet' a map of the really "at risk" places could have been done by authorities (even though, I know, they are busy elsewhere... but they could mobilize students in geography, or whoever, to do so...).

Besides these considerations, I am surprised (well, not that much in fact) that Thailand does not have a proper water management system : Monsoon has been going on here for quite a while. Deforestation and urbanization worsened the problem... And nothing serious seemed to have been done by any government might it be democrat or Thaksinian.

I worry much about the crisis aftermath : economic recovery will be extremely hard, will need a lot of money coming form abroad (which, by the way could lessen a bit the pressure on Europe) with certain impact on the baht. There might also be forced unemployment (if japanese industries decide not to take anymore risks for the years to come and relocate elsewhere in Asia for example) and social unrest.

By the way, the political promises made during the campaign will be forgotten : 300 hundred baht a day ? Forget it ! Bad for recovery ! I-pads for students ? Forget it ! Bad for national reconstruction !

And who will be responsible ? Rain ? Water management officials ? Prime Minister ? Dharma ? Spirits ? Each and every Thai ?

Will there be any "sustainable and responsible" water management policy ? Will Bangkok's urban development plans be reviewed ? (Condos of over 50 floors weight a lot... nothing is done to enhance a sensible way of managing the problem).

Well, all in all, it is Thai people's (and not only thai elite) problem and I am quite happy to be out of such political mess. May they make a good choice, they'll be the only responsible for it anyway.

I also hope there will not be any violence towards foreigners living in Thailand... (which could be understandable given the situation and the ideology... but not forgivable).