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Is it safe to buy a condo in Bangkok when the city will soon be flooded?


RandolphGB

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4 minutes ago, watcharacters said:

 

The government will  tend properly to any flooding concerns.

 

Is that the same government that is currently getting its cut when approving big developments which are contributing to sinking problem?

 

I don't see the government tending to current concerns.

 

 

 

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1 hour ago, ratcatcher said:

Think Venice, after all, Bangkok was indeed the Venice of the East before they covered or  filled in many klongs.  Be sure to buy on the 2nd floor thus allowing for easy boarding of boats from your balcony.  You're gondola love it.

"Venice of the East" referred to Ayutthya. Common misconception, look it up. ?

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Official advice from the previous Bangkok governor was to move to higher ground when it floods. He also had pointed out that there weren't actually any floods, but just water waiting to drain away. This information may no longer be reliable though since they sacked him!

 

More to the point, not all areas of Bangkok are equally flood prone, and even adjacent sois can respond differently when floods occur. Sukhumvit soi 11 and 13 are an example, 11 had it's drains upgraded and enlarged years ago, whereas 13 didn't, with predictable results (though 13s drains have also now been upgraded, in the past year). Some areas a little to the north like Ladprao, and also out towards Samut Prakan seem to flood more consistently. A wise move would be to enquire (perhaps on this forum) into any flooding issues people are aware of relating to the specific neighbourhoods or sois you may be interested in.

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6 hours ago, lamyai3 said:

Official advice from the previous Bangkok governor was to move to higher ground when it floods. He also had pointed out that there weren't actually any floods, but just water waiting to drain away. This information may no longer be reliable though since they sacked him!

 

More to the point, not all areas of Bangkok are equally flood prone, and even adjacent sois can respond differently when floods occur. Sukhumvit soi 11 and 13 are an example, 11 had it's drains upgraded and enlarged years ago, whereas 13 didn't, with predictable results (though 13s drains have also now been upgraded, in the past year). Some areas a little to the north like Ladprao, and also out towards Samut Prakan seem to flood more consistently. A wise move would be to enquire (perhaps on this forum) into any flooding issues people are aware of relating to the specific neighbourhoods or sois you may be interested in.

I agree with most of what is said here except there is absolutely no certainty that wherever you live will not get flooded except if you live on high ground. Several major cities including Miami and Jakarta are going to have similar problems but the speed at which governments are addressing the problems is not going to help things!

 

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I would worry a lot more about the food situation: a few degrees more in average temperature will reduce th4 2-3 rice crops per year to only one. So, a 500 million mouths too many to fill in S.E. Asia.

 

This little increase of sea level: too much capital at stake in Bangkok, so when.. for sure hugh dikes will be built. When the Dutch kan keep a city area N.E. of Rotterdam, called Alexanderpolder, 6 meters below sea level, dry, why not Bangklok, with maybe then a 1-2 mtr below sealevel ?

See https://www.routeyou.com/nl-nl/location/view/47224932/laagste-punt-van-nederland-6-74m : this is NOW already below sealevel with lowest: - 6,74 mtr.

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Read the history of how Bangkok became the capital and you will see it was swamp land and that made it easier to defend against the Burmese army. 

 

Read also who owns Bangkok and the royal family has billions of dollars of land in Bangkok. 

 

IMO Thailand will do what is necessary to protect the wealthy landowners of Bangkok. IMO the Dutch engineers could resolve the flooding issues but Thailand will not hire them. Personally I think the risk of flooding is low compared to the risk that prices are way to expensive to buy based on supply and demand. Rents are too cheap IMO to buy any Bangkok condo at this point in time. I have been wrong before so good for you to ask other opinions and then make the best decision for you. Good luck. 

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19 minutes ago, puipuitom said:

I would worry a lot more about the food situation: a few degrees more in average temperature will reduce th4 2-3 rice crops per year to only one. So, a 500 million mouths too many to fill in S.E. Asia.

 

This little increase of sea level: too much capital at stake in Bangkok, so when.. for sure hugh dikes will be built. When the Dutch kan keep a city area N.E. of Rotterdam, called Alexanderpolder, 6 meters below sea level, dry, why not Bangklok, with maybe then a 1-2 mtr below sealevel ?

See https://www.routeyou.com/nl-nl/location/view/47224932/laagste-punt-van-nederland-6-74m : this is NOW already below sealevel with lowest: - 6,74 mtr.

 

7 minutes ago, Wake Up said:

Read the history of how Bangkok became the capital and you will see it was swamp land and that made it easier to defend against the Burmese army. 

 

Read also who owns Bangkok and the royal family has billions of dollars of land in Bangkok. 

 

IMO Thailand will do what is necessary to protect the wealthy landowners of Bangkok. IMO the Dutch engineers could resolve the flooding issues but Thailand will not hire them. Personally I think the risk of flooding is low compared to the risk that prices are way to expensive to buy based on supply and demand. Rents are too cheap IMO to buy any Bangkok condo at this point in time. I have been wrong before so good for you to ask other opinions and then make the best decision for you. Good luck. 

 

Thank you both for your validation.

 

 

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Probably just as safe or unsafe as buying a condo in, let's say, Miami Beach...

Many investors are still buying in both cities.  Solutions are available (e.g. Holland) and the Royal Family will protect their holdings in Bangkok eventually.  Seek high ground in the city to be dry while they figure out what to do.  

Edited by Miami007
typo
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