erobando

Any updates on rama 2? There have been reports of flooding that don't say exactly where. I have a friend whose going to try to get into Bangkok tomorrow from that direction.

Rama 2 Road is still OK and should be for at least a couple of more days..

Some water is coming out of drains on a few Sois on both sides of street but only at low levels.

And water hasn't yet reached the Rama 2 area SW from the BKK-Samut Sakhon border.

Edit: I just read the Live Report post about water at Tesco Lotus Rama 2 Road. It must be referring to off of the main road.

My wife just drove from Central Rama 2 to Muang Samut Sakhon and said no water on the road... but lot's of traffic, cars parked near Central Plaza and many vendors on the the side of the road selling flood-related items.

I'm not sure why people are criticizing the PM for this. I'm sure that the water quality is OK after boiling it.

Also, this refers to the MWA quality, so outside of BKK isn't addressed.

The Bangkok government hasn't been perfect during this crisis, but I haven't seen Sukhumbhand acting only based upon partisanship.

IMO Bangkok had some sort of plan of what they wanted to and had the ability to protect, while FROC operates with no plan at all.

Hey all. I have been following this story since the begining but have not posted anything until now. The thing is I am meant to be going home for a couple of months for xmas starting in the middle of this month, I am based in Hua Hin and am aware that Rama II is flooded up which may cause issues by road, but is it possible to get there by train still? Even if is, what would the conditions be like trying to get to the airport from there? Any help would be highly appreciated, thanks Tom

It would be best if you can leave for Bangkok in the next few days and then stay there until your flight.

Rama 2 Road isn't flooded yet. It will be OK tomorrow, maybe still passable on Thursday.

If you wait until next week, you need to hope that the detour route through Ratchaburi and Nakhom Pathom to Route 340 is clear.

I don't know about the train, tho. A good part of Nakhon Pathom is already flooded. Then you'd need to get through Nonthaburi, also flooded.

Even if the sea did rise by 29cm, how would that put Bangkok under water?

Most of Bangkok is higher than that.

Rising sea levels would effect the wetland areas in Bangkhuntien but that's about it.

There isn't flooding on Rama 2 yet but there is some minor flooding (maybe 10cm or less) on a few Sois on both sides of the street between Soi 5 and 82.

"During the trip, Thaksin discussed the flooding situation with the MPs, asserting that the the country must be fully restored within three months"

What is wrong with this guy, he must think he is the God

Well, he is, isn't he?

And on the fourth month, T will rest.

I believe Thailand honors international agreements regarding double taxation.

If you pay tax in your home country then you are already helping with climate change taxation.

To add a value added tax is not feasable.

What they could do is let foreigners own property and then start taxing property at proper rates.

Most of my income, for example, comes from Thailand, so I pay income tax to the Thai government from Thai sources (e.g., salary from a Thai company).

As an American, I pay the US only for income not already taxed here. I report the Thai income but it is tax exempt due to protection from double taxation as you point out.

Rather than a foreigner tax, the Thai government could raise more funds by slightly increasing tax levels on the upper middle classes and up.

For example, my tax rate is lower in Thailand than for an equivalent amount in the US even though the income puts me at in a higher percentile than in the US.

They would also need to actually enforce taxes which will be difficult people many people find creative ways to keep reported income at low levels.

The major obstacles are that... 1) the wealthy make the tax laws and won't tax themselves, and 2) are raised taxes really going to the projects for which they are intended. There is a lack of transparency.

Anyway, I don't think that funding is the major problem in flood prevention.

They could find a way to fund the projects if they wanted to. The problem is a general lack of long-term planning.

Anyone on the Thonburi side?

Do you have any info of the relief of the land between Charan Sanitwong and the river passing through Wat Arun?

If you notice the water has crossed the Phet Kasem & Charan Sanitwong intersection, and I was wondering, is it building up, and trying to makes it way East to the river?

My concern is, at the rate the water is moving, if it is taking this course, it will meet the river in a week, at the same time when the highest tides are predicted.

If that is the case, then the whole point from Wat Arun around to Klong San could be screwed?

So, can anyone tell us what is happening with body of water near Phet KKasem and Charan Sanit Wong?

Thanks

The area to north, west and south of the intersection are all lower than the towards the river.

The Wat Arun-Klong San area might get flooding during the high tide but it won't be as bad as other areas because water will flow away.

How about american embassy wireless road have fllods are not have to go soon.

How about the route from Suvarn.. Airport to US Embassy? Any chance of getting through? Or utter exercise in futility and frustration ?

How about a link to a decent flood map that's been updated today ?

Yes, you can get to the US Embassy from the airport.

Wireless Road isn't flooded now and probably won't be later, either.

I'm not sure what this dude is referring to...

Elevation maps show that eastern Bangkok (e.g., from the outer ring road) is in fact lower than the central areas.

The Silom area as about 3-4 meters higher.

The big bags won't stop the rats.The ones that don't drown on the way down from Lop Buri are making their way to dry inner Bangkok. if they are not dead and decomposing in the floodwater with other dead animals and human fecal matter, they are armying down to Sukhumvit and dry sois where they can feed easily on decayed garbage, rotted food and work they're way through sewage backup in al the buildings. They will be able to dine on billions of giant cockroaches trying to escape the flood seepage and work their way on to the sois and walls. Has the government prepared for massive health crisis, rat rabies, dog rabies, and disease from all sorts of contamination in the flood water? Check this out from last April 2009 rain and flood in Bangkok. http://www.youtube.c...feature=related Imagine what the current flood crisis will bring by way of genus Rattus.

I'll make a bold prediction and say there will not be a rabies epidemic.

I'm landing Thursday next week and I was planing to go to Ratchaburi in rented SUV.

Rama 2 will likely be flooded by then, but to what degree I don't think anyone is sure.

There will be many people in your situation.

You could check with your airline before you leave... at that time they might have info about where to go for help (e.g., if a travel route help desk is set up at the airport).

Rather than blocking it shouldn't they be trying to drain it as fast as possible, making use of the current low level of the tides. We will be back into larger high tides about mid month. The educational system in this country has a lot to answer for.....

They don't just block it. They direct it to lower land to the east and as much as possible to the gulf via canals and the Bang Kapong.

The diameter of the flooded area is much bigger than the 6km big bag barrier. Water is flowing slowly south from Pathum Thani, Ayuthaya, Nonthaburi and Nakhom Pathom. Waterways to the east and the Chao Phraya and Tha Chin to the west can only carry so much water.

Any news of Rama II flooded?

No, not yet but probably within a couple of days.

One major paper reports today that FROC decided that they would not try to prevent water flow onto Rama 2 Road. They said instead that they will drain water from Route 340/Bong Bua Thong-Supan Buri Road so that people can get to the South via Ratchburi.

Good luck getting to 340 if you're now in Thonburi so if you want to travel south, better leave soon LOL.

Also, no word on what will be the new makeshift bus terminal since Holland Beer Hall won't be useable.

Howe to get from Suvarnabhumi to the 340?

The options through Northern Bangkok or Nonthaburi all go through currently flooded areas... Maybe another poster can help with which roads are still passable.

When do you plan to travel? I think Rama 2 Road will be OK through at at least Monday and Route 340 hasn't been drained yet.

I would expect the airport will have something set up to help people with available detours.

So what is the forecast where Rama II will get flooded? Inside or outside the Kanchanapisek ring?

FROC is saying all of it and I haven't seen any real forecast, at least from the government, other than general "all of Thonburi" should be prepared for flooding.

But the lowest points on Rama 2 are from the Bangkok-Samut Sakhon border to a couple of km west. I would think that area would have the deepest water and be hardest to drain.

Flooding from Suk Sawat to the outer ring road might not be as bad.

Any news of Rama II flooded?

No, not yet but probably within a couple of days.

One major paper reports today that FROC decided that they would not try to prevent water flow onto Rama 2 Road. They said instead that they will drain water from Route 340/Bong Bua Thong-Supan Buri Road so that people can get to the South via Ratchburi.

Good luck getting to 340 if you're now in Thonburi so if you want to travel south, better leave soon LOL.

Also, no word on what will be the new makeshift bus terminal since Holland Beer Hall won't be useable.

They should continue to make thicker newspapers. They can be used as a part of a flood barrier after being read.

It is a animation of past events, not projections, from what I gather.

No, think the animation is a projection based up amount of water and elevation.

The animation shows water flowing through the SW part Bangkhuntian/eastern Samut Sakhon and into the sea.

Those parts have lower elevation than surrounding areas are liklely will get flooding but not yet. Also, the flooding in Thonburi has already spread a little closer to the Chao Phraya than shown in the animation.

Animation showing the movement of water on Thai Flood 2011, made by Toshiki Iwasaki, a Japanese Doctorial sudent. An excellent animation from October-November

http://www.facebook....v=2383339114783

That's interesting... I guess based upon elevation.

I could be wrong, but I think some of the areas the animation projects to stay dry are already flooded.

There is a report in a major English language newspaper that Governor Sukhumbhand is angry because requested for pumps for Thonburi (Phasi Charoen) have not arrived.

The Irrigation Department claims they never received the letter while the municipal government said they submitted it via FROC.

lol

If Subway is flooded, how are we going to get sandwiches?

Anyone with any news on the status of Rama 2??

Thanks

Another thing about Rama 2 Road... much of it is slightly higher than area around it.

Water is going to flow SW toward Samut Sakhon, which is lower.

Rama 2 might remain passable if flooding can be limited around the lowest points, which are a few kms around of the Bangkok-Samut Sakhon border.

Anyone with any news on the status of Rama 2??

Thanks

Still 2-3 days before it likely reaches Rama 2 Rd.

In Bangkae Phetkasem road is a disaster. Kanchanaphisek is closed also. Boromchachonnani and Phetkasem are done. That leaves only Rama 2 road as the only access to the south and west of bkk.

It took me half a day to get to my home in phutthamonthon sai 2 and back.

Can't drive because in some places the water is too deep, can't use a boat because in some places it is dry and not deep enough, and obviously can't use both.

Some people made the best of the situation, but in a week I guarantee the population will get depressed if the waters don't recede soon.

The water is moving south on Kanchanapisek. It will be in Bangbon within 1-2 days. Bangkae and nong kham didn't make it.

I wonder how much they can minimize the water flowing onto Rama 2 Road. Some parts are slightly elevated, but it certainly has some lower patches.

An extended period of being inaccessible will make problems everywhere much worse.