george Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Incessant downpours flood Bangkok and vicinity in 44 spots BANGKOK: -- Incessantly heavy downpours and thunderstorms have occurred in all Bangkok and the vicinity on Sunday night, causing floods in 44 areas due to the capital’s inadequate drainage system. Forty-two flooding spots have returned to normal early Monday morning, while the high water level in the other two areas at the Ratchada-Ladprao intersection and Pongpetch Market were to be drained away by 11 am Monday. Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra went to the Ratchada-Ladprao intersection, where water was some 10 centimetres deep. He said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) was able to drain only 60 millimetres of accumulated rainfall, but Sunday’s heavy downpours meant accumulated water amounted to over 100 millimetres. Meanwhile, Drainage and Sewerage Department Director Charnchai Witoonpanyakij said flooding in inner Bangkok could normally be solved within two hours, but Sunday’s rainfall took more time for drainage in some areas located far from the river. There are now seven drainage tunnels in the capital. The department plans to build another from Bang Sue district to the Chao Phraya River. The project will open private sector bidding later this year with a budget of around Bt2 billion. The Meteorological Department has warned the public to be careful of the danger from heavy rains in many areas nationwide, as wind-driven waves in the Gulf and the Andaman Sea could be 2-3 metres high and become stronger in the next few days, and small boats should not leave shore. -- TNA 2009-08-31 Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/georgebkk We are on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/farang Be the first to know! Get our community toolbar with Thailand News and thousands of internet radio stations: http://toolbar.thaivisa.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
h90 Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Is shortage on beer to expect? Else I need to stock for the wet times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pattaya_girl Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Wow, sounds bad... Its OK here in Pattaya, just a little rain last night but nothing bad like Bangkok. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
barry Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 time to build an ark Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thanh-BKK Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Hi. What's the panic about 10 cm's of water? I used to work near Lad Phrao intersection for some time and last year i had to cross knee-deep water there several times. Also in Sukhumvit i had my motorbike (a normal, not under-bone one) die when the water reached the top of the cylinder, in places it was hip-deep then (~60-70 cm's). And no matter what they do, first time it really pours it's all flooded again anyway. My boss lives in a village of Pathanakan where all streets are 10-15 cm's deep flooded after 20 minutes of rain, EVERY time. Best regards..... Thanh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sisaketmike Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Incessant downpours flood Bangkok and vicinity in 44 spots BANGKOK: -- Incessantly heavy downpours and thunderstorms have occurred in all Bangkok and the vicinity on Sunday night, causing floods in 44 areas due to the capital's inadequate drainage system. Forty-two flooding spots have returned to normal early Monday morning, while the high water level in the other two areas at the Ratchada-Ladprao intersection and Pongpetch Market were to be drained away by 11 am Monday. Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra went to the Ratchada-Ladprao intersection, where water was some 10 centimetres deep. He said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) was able to drain only 60 millimetres of accumulated rainfall, but Sunday's heavy downpours meant accumulated water amounted to over 100 millimetres. Meanwhile, Drainage and Sewerage Department Director Charnchai Witoonpanyakij said flooding in inner Bangkok could normally be solved within two hours, but Sunday's rainfall took more time for drainage in some areas located far from the river. There are now seven drainage tunnels in the capital. The department plans to build another from Bang Sue district to the Chao Phraya River. The project will open private sector bidding later this year with a budget of around Bt2 billion. The Meteorological Department has warned the public to be careful of the danger from heavy rains in many areas nationwide, as wind-driven waves in the Gulf and the Andaman Sea could be 2-3 metres high and become stronger in the next few days, and small boats should not leave shore. -- TNA 2009-08-31 Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/georgebkk We are on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/farang Be the first to know! Get our community toolbar with Thailand News and thousands of internet radio stations: http://toolbar.thaivisa.com Is there a boat service from Kao San Road to the Airport now? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
billd766 Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 (edited) Up here in Central 65km southwest of Khampaeng Phet we have had 4 days or nights of heavy rain and thunderstorms. My almost empty fish pond has nearly 1 metre of water in it and where they are building a bridge and a new road across the local klong the temporary bridge and tunnels they brought in have been washed away. Edited August 31, 2009 by billd766 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
andyc2006 Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Last night's rain, lightning and thunder were an awesome sight to behold. But I am glad that I was at home, watching it from inside. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acharn Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Nothing new here. This happens at least once every year when we have a very heavy rain. Nobody ever seems to remember. The situation is a lot better than it used to be. And it's normal for the rains to be heavier in September and October. Then there's the unuaually high tide we get every year in the middle of October, so you can figure there's probably worse to come. The thing that gets me is when it rains, Thai drivers act as though they've never had to drive in rain before. Old news, nothing to see here, move along folks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussiejosh Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Funny part is your all ok with it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bob4you Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Funny part is your all ok with it. TIT, get used to it, actually it is getting better over the years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webfact Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 (edited) Why always a big story about something which happens every year? Let the rain officially begin! It rains already... The same procedure as every year... nid noi flood prevention too much plastic in the drains... TiT. Edited August 31, 2009 by webfact Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussiejosh Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Dude, I am happy with it, its chilled riding a bike down sukhumvit 22. Its just funny that people take pride in the country or city with such a simple problem plaguing it, however it will get worse as the water levels rise. Cant wait to take a jet ski down sukhumvit in the future. Seriously looking fore ward to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tracer5050 Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 I live in Ratchada woke up saw rain and lighting went back to bed , This morning went out no problem, rain had drained away Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lannatyne Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 time to build an ark Good idea, but are you actually allowed to OWN an Ark in Thailand? I'm not too sure how old you are, but given that Noah was 950 when he died, ensure that your own Ark usufruct is a lifetime one, and not limited to 30 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulHamon Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Is shortage on beer to expect?Else I need to stock for the wet times. love bangkok when it floods. makes it more fun. of course i don't HAVE to get anywhere. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
webfact Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 time to build an ark Good idea, but are you actually allowed to OWN an Ark in Thailand? I'm not too sure how old you are, but given that Noah was 950 when he died, ensure that your own Ark usufruct is a lifetime one, and not limited to 30 years. they can be built on request... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
moskito Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Always the same story in LOS, TOO much water during rain season, NO water when dry season. same same EVERY SINGLE YEAR in Isaan too, but they never build enough reservoirs to keep the masses of water in rain season. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AsiaCheese Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 time to build an ark Good idea, but are you actually allowed to OWN an Ark in Thailand? I'm not too sure how old you are, but given that Noah was 950 when he died, ensure that your own Ark usufruct is a lifetime one, and not limited to 30 years. 51% Thai ownership should do the trick Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Datsun240Z Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 I'd did a post on earlier, about Krung Thep sinking... It is, but slowely. If you arrive LOS by plane, turning over BKK for a landing at Suvarnabhumi, you can clearly see, how low BKK is actually lying, in comparisation to the sea level. They will have to do something about it in the future. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
opalhort Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Does anybody remember the 'great floods' in BKK in the early '80s (I think it was '83 or '84)? A lot has improved here since then. These days flooding is very localised and it usually subsides within a few hours after the rains stop. Let's not forget that BKK is very low lying and at high tides (Oct./Nov.) the best and biggest pumps won't be able to get rid of the water. Our home is only 1.2mtr. above mean sea level, yet we haven't seen any flooding in the past 15 years because flood gates have been installed at all Khlongs in our area (we have a Khlong right behind our house!). I think the BMA has done quite a good job in this regard. opalhort Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sunholidaysun1 Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Now we know why the Red Shirts cancelled, someone read the weather report !! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
koto Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Wow, sounds bad... Its OK here in Pattaya, just a little rain last night but nothing bad like Bangkok. Like The Pollution Solution Group has been saying for years, In Pattaya, stencil the storm drains, (NO GARBAGE) (GOES TO OCEAN) With a picture, Or in Bangkoks case, (GOES TO RIVER) That is one of the reasons Jomtien and Pattaya Beach has been so full of garbage, Keep them cleaned out and the flooding would be much, much less, also the water would not be so contaminated, It seems to always be after the fact, We need more inspectors, more pumping out the garbage and stenciling, this could make a big difference, also in the Jomtien, Pattaya area... Our life's blood is in the storm drains, keep them clean, our sea food, beaches, roads, homes, would be a lot safer and cleaner... Hello City Hall... We are all In this neighborhood together...(STENCIL HEAVY FOOT TRAFFIC STORM DRAIN AREAS) Fine the people that think storm drains are for garbage or educate them, Take a look in them, they are full of cooking oil, motor oil, paint, plastic, toxic cigarette butts, which plug up the drains and then we have a big rain they back up over flow with toxic waste flooding into our homes, streets, this could be cut in half with a little preventative maintenance...Inspect, Clean, Stencil, Fine... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pawpcorn Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 AHHHhhh!!! This would be a good time to visit Cha Am, and go swimming... body surfing, even, since the waves might just be bigger than the 9 inch high "normal" waves in the Gulf of Thailand....!!!! Surf's UP!!! Kowabunga!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DoctorD Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Does anybody remember the 'great floods' in BKK in the early '80s (I think it was '83 or '84)?... I think the BMA has done quite a good job in this regard. Oh yes! Sutthisarn Road was a foot deep for several days. Friends caught fish in their living room. Amazing. I still have pictures cut out of the Post, showing Thais with big grins navigating the streets in their boats. Things have improved greatly here. It's easy to complain, but the level of positive change here in Bangkok, between the eighties and now at least matches anything you'd see in the U.S. DoctorD Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarryP Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 Compared to what it was like in 83 (or was it 84), Sunday's problems were nothing. In '83 I saw people windsurfing on Sukhumvit (not joking). To get to Samrong from Prakanong you had to take a boat. Ramkamhaeng Uni was closed for at least 6 months as most of the buildings were underwater. A lot of Petchburi Road was under waist deep water. I went to work in shorts and tee shirt and changed at the office. Luckily I was in wading distance of the office so traffic jams were not a problem for me. Things have improved considerably since then. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laocowboy2 Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 I live in Delhi - and the "waterlogging" in Bangkok would be considered the height of efficient rainwater management here. Anything beyond a minor shower causes chaos due to poor provision of drainage, flooded underpasses (who on earth constructs an underpass that carries a major road without proper provision for drainage and or pumps???) and massive traffic jams. Oh, and yes, all the traffic lights go out as they are not waterproof either! Finally when the water recedes we discober that all the tarmac has washed asway as well. Bangkok is Zurich-like in water management efficiency compared to here! Incessant downpours flood Bangkok and vicinity in 44 spots BANGKOK: -- Incessantly heavy downpours and thunderstorms have occurred in all Bangkok and the vicinity on Sunday night, causing floods in 44 areas due to the capital's inadequate drainage system. Forty-two flooding spots have returned to normal early Monday morning, while the high water level in the other two areas at the Ratchada-Ladprao intersection and Pongpetch Market were to be drained away by 11 am Monday. Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra went to the Ratchada-Ladprao intersection, where water was some 10 centimetres deep. He said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) was able to drain only 60 millimetres of accumulated rainfall, but Sunday's heavy downpours meant accumulated water amounted to over 100 millimetres. Meanwhile, Drainage and Sewerage Department Director Charnchai Witoonpanyakij said flooding in inner Bangkok could normally be solved within two hours, but Sunday's rainfall took more time for drainage in some areas located far from the river. There are now seven drainage tunnels in the capital. The department plans to build another from Bang Sue district to the Chao Phraya River. The project will open private sector bidding later this year with a budget of around Bt2 billion. The Meteorological Department has warned the public to be careful of the danger from heavy rains in many areas nationwide, as wind-driven waves in the Gulf and the Andaman Sea could be 2-3 metres high and become stronger in the next few days, and small boats should not leave shore. -- TNA 2009-08-31 Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/georgebkk We are on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/farang Be the first to know! Get our community toolbar with Thailand News and thousands of internet radio stations: http://toolbar.thaivisa.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dude007 Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 time to build an ark The red shirts took a wise decision not to come out... They would have been washed away! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JRinger Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 I'd did a post on earlier, about Krung Thep sinking... It is, but slowely. If you arrive LOS by plane, turning over BKK for a landing at Suvarnabhumi, you can clearly see, how low BKK is actually lying, in comparisation to the sea level. They will have to do something about it in the future. The average elevation of Bangkok is 2 meters above sea level. The reason it's sinking is because it's mostly clay, hence the deep, concrete piles under structures that more or less float on the clay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
WAERTH Posted August 31, 2009 Share Posted August 31, 2009 When I started living in my condo here in 1999 the street I am in would flood every day and some times stay flooded for days on end. Nowadays yes it gets flooded but it is gone after 1 or 2 hours and it doesn't flood often anymore. So they are definitely doing a good job there!! W Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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