Bangkok Braces For Severe Floods

[richard10365]

I'm in Sa Kaeo about 18km from Cambodia. It rained a little this afternoon but not much.

It's now 10pm Sunday night and no rain.

[jantrevor]

Bangkok braces for severe floods

BANGKOK: -- BMA sets up emergency centre, pumps and sandbags to tackle expected floodwaters. Authorities launched measures yesterday to assist Bangkok residents expected to be affected by severe flooding after tropical storm “Vicente” strikes today. The Bangkok Metropolitan Authority (BMA) has set up an emergency centre to tackle the impact of flooding. The centre will cooperate with three radio stations to keep people informed with the latest storm news.

In addition, five telephone hotlines will be available for anyone in need of assistance. These are 1644, 1677, 1137, 1555 and (02) 248 5115.

About 2,000 pumps have been set up to control flooding in the capital, as well as 1.7 million sandbags, which will be used to prevent water from the Chao Phya River overflowing into the capital, Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin announced.

Errr .... where they going to pump the water to? The pumping idea only works when sending the water to a lower surface level, and as the lower surface levels are the first to flood, this will be a bit like pushing it uphill with a broom.

Prime Minister’s Office Minister Newin Chidchob also declared yesterday special services for Bangkok drivers who run into trouble during the storm. A fleet of large forklift trucks will be on standby at 10 stations around the city ready to remove six- to 10-wheeled trucks that hit difficulty. There will also be 130 smaller forklifts available to remove or repair smaller vehicles, he said.

Ooh - lots of cars damaged by the fork lifts' tines (the metal "forks") should really make the citizens happy

Drivers in trouble should call the 1376 hotline number.

The tropical storm is expected to hit Bangkok today and is expected to cause widespread flooding in the capital from , when the BMA’s centre will begin operations.

“Normally, rainfall in Bangok is less than 60 millimetres and we could drain that water within an hour. However, the continual rainfall we will face today is expected to cause flooding as high as 150mm, making it impossible to drain the water,” .

As I said - where they going to send the water to?

The problem might be more serious as most canals and swamp areas are already filled to brimming with water, he said.

Err no - the canals are mostly infilled to create roads for the cars that will be lifted out by the forklifts

Apart from Bangkok, the weather men yesterday warned nine provinces in the East and Northeast to expect to feel the brunt of the tropical storm: Nong Khai, Nakhon Phanom, Sakon Nakhon, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen, Prachin Buri, Sa Kaew, Chantaburi and Trat.

Fishermen in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand were also warned to expect strong winds for the next four days.

Does that mean a ban on the sale of baked beans then?

Meanwhile, residents in the provinces of Nakhon Sawan, Phichit and Chachoengsao yesterday were already facing serious flooding.

In Nakhon Sawan, about 500 banana farms in Chum Saeng district were hit by a 150cm-deep flood, forcing farmers to harvest their product early. Subsequently, they had to sell bananas at Bt2 per kilogram instead of the market price of Bt7.

In Phichit, continual rain has caused flooding in the districts of Sak Lek, Muang and Wangsai-phoon. Local villagers accused the provincial irrigation office of not opening the local dam’s water gate in time, causing the area to flood.

Hmmm - the opposite accusation to the one in Chiangmai, where the dam floodgates were opened too early and released the overflow at the same time as the rainwaters surged through the Ping river, leading to the flooding of half the city - poor Irrigation Authority just can't win can they?

In Chachoengsao, flooded areas increased to affect 700 families yesterday. Water levels rapidly rose at the rate of 20cm per hour, creating concern that the local dam could break. Local radio stations broadcast a warning to residents to evacuate to higher ground. However, authorities denied at the end of the day that any danger had existed.

left hand and right hand?

Despite flooding in other provinces, Phuket continues to suffer from drought. Deputy Interior Minister Somchai Sunthornvut visited the province yesterday and announced several measures to cope with the water shortage, including using water from old mine reservoirs and diverting water from Ratchaprapha Dam.

Local businessmen said they would invest Bt500 million to produce 10,000 cubic metres of freshwater per day from seawater. The project is expected to in the next six months.

-- The Nation 2005-09-18

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Seems that the perennial problem is best summed up by a German scientist on TV last month (talking about Australia's water shortage) - "It amazes me that countries continually allow their precious freshwater resources to drain into the sea - it's a bit like filling the car petrol tank when there's a hole in the botton of it".

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

[george]

Moving toward Bangkok, Tropical Storm Vicente batters Northeast

BANGKOK: -- Tropical storm Vicente from Vietnam arrived northeastern Thailand this afternoon, causing heavy rain in two northern provinces and 11 northeastern provinces, said the chief of the Meteorological Department.

Suparerk Tunsriratanawong, director general of the weather department, said tropical storm Vicente moved with a maximum wind at its centre of about 80 km/hr would cause heavy rain in the northern, northeastern and eastern regions.

He said the storm was expected to move towards northern Thailand tomorrow and five northern provinces including the region's capital city of Chiang Mai.

The metereological director also confirmed that Thailand's capital, remains in the direct path of the storm, and the eastern provinces of Chanthaburi and Trat, bordering Cambodia, where very heavy rains are expected.

Residents of these provinces are warned of flash floods with some areas expected to be hit by mudslides. Heavy seas mean that it is unsafe for fishing boats, cargo or pessenger ferries to be at sea during the next few days.

The Meteorological Department forecasts that Vicente will leave Thailand on Tuesday but a new tropical storm erupting from the Philippines is then expected to follow, meaning that serious storm conditions will remain in many part of Thailand in the coming week.

--TNA 2005-09-18

[george]

TROPICAL STORM:

Vicente sweeps across Isaan

BANGKOK: -- At least 16 provinces hit by strong winds and pouring rain; officials prepare for more flash floods in the capital

Tropical storm Vicente smashed into Thailand late yesterday, wreaking havoc in several Northern provinces as red alerts were issued in expectation of flash floods and landslides.

After ravaging northwest Vietnam, the storm, with winds measuring at least 80kmh, proceeded to rip through 16 provinces in the North and Northeast – many of which had not fully recovered from the ravages of a tropical depression last week.

The Northeast has been hit by howling winds and pelting rain since Saturday evening.

In Maha Sarakham, strong winds felled trees and caused the collapse of a two-storey school building. No one was injured because the school was closed yesterday. Students will resume their studies today in an undamaged gymnasium, authorities said.

The Meteorological Depart-ment issued regular updates of Vicente’s progress throughout yesterday as well as warnings of potential flash floods in about 20 provinces, mostly in the Northeast. Bangkok was also on the list of affected provinces.

The Interior Ministry said 16 provinces were at increased risk of floods and landslides – Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen, Ubon Ratchathani, Nong Khai, Sakon Nakhon, Loei, Nong Bua Lamphu, Udon Thani, Phetchabun, Phayao, Phrae, Nan, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son.

Deputy Minister Sermsak Pongpanit ordered governors of the 16 provinces to prepare for the evacuation of residents in danger zones and to issue hourly weather updates to people throughout last night.

Officials in many provinces placed various landing craft on alert to assist in evacuations, if need be.

In Bangkok, local authorities prepared more than 30 tow-trucks for service on roads in case of severe flooding today. Some areas of the capital are still battling with the remnants of floods from the tropical depression early last week.

Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayothin said about 1.7 million sandbags had been stockpiled and would be deployed, if needed.

Newin Chidchob, minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, said many parts of Bangkok could be inundated today or tomorrow when Vicente passes through.

Many provinces drained reservoirs yesterday to prevent heavy rains from causing unmanaged overflows. Yet heavy rain yesterday morning caused a reservoir in Amnat Charoen to break its banks. Officials were scrambling to drain other reservoirs in time.

Although the storm is expected to miss the South, there were reports of heavy rains and floods in Phuket, Phang Nga, and Satun.

In Phuket’s Muang district, mudslides swamped at least seven houses. The area between the popular Patong and Kamala beaches – a landslide-prone zone – was being closely monitored. And fishing boats in Satun were advised to stay at anchor.

--The Nation 2005-09-19

[MrWizard]

Be sure you have a huge amount of chicken in your fridge.

In this way you can lure the crocodiles away from your house at the klongs.

[Wingnuts]

Anyone have any update on this, I have Thai friends in Krung Thep, I have been trying to find out the situation. I sent text messages yesterday and they were all OK.

[Scott]

Well, it's Monday morning Sep. 19 8:30 a.m. and there is no rain here in BKK (at least in the Southern part of the city). No wind, just cloudy and muggy. What is the latest update on this storm? Is it going to hit BKK or not?

[dantilley]

Anyone have any update on this, I have Thai friends in Krung Thep, I have been trying to find out the situation. I sent text messages yesterday and they were all OK.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Any Krung Thep based friends will be fine for now because the storm hasn't reached here yet (11:00am). I guess this will be the place to check for updates, other than mainstream news sites, of course...

[lopburi3]

It is not even a storm anymore and was never tracking into Thailand in any model or prediction from Weather Underground. It took the normal and expected track into Vietnam and Northern Laos and dissipated. There was never more than rain reported at any monitoring site in Thailand when I checked last night and again now; and no winds of more than single digit.

[george]

Update:

Floods still likely in the North; Tropical Storm Vicente moves to Myanmar

BANGKOK: -- Rivers overflowing their banks and flash floods are likely in the North and Northeastern regions, the Meteorology Department warned today as tropical storm Vicente continues to cause increased heavy rain.

Tropical Storm Vicente is moving on today, leaving Thailand for Myanmar Monday afternoon.

The Department of Mineral Resources had issued alerts on landslides in some districts of Mae Hong Son, Tak, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Nan, Lampang, Phayao, Phrae, Phetchabun, and Loei provinces.

It said officials should be well prepared for evacuating residents to safe areas.

The tropical storm, moving westward with a maximum wind speed of 50 km/hr, was centred in Phayao this morning.

Fishermen are advised to use caution when going to sea due to strong winds in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman sea.

--TNA 2005-09-19

[Joey Boy]

the suns out now, off 4 a dip I reckon

[george]

Update:

Side-effects of 'Vicente' shut down Gulf of Thailand

SURAT THANI: -- The Gulf of Thailand was spared the main effect of Tropical Storm Vicente, which moved across northern Thailand to Myanmar, but its fellow-traveler weather systems affected small craft as far south as Surat Thani Sunday night, causing local authorities to halt the movement of shutttle boats and speedboats.

Due to heavy downpours, winds and rough seas, thousands of foreign tourists reveling the annual 'Moon Party' on Pha-ngan island got a 'double feature', exposure to a real storm, but for many tourists the assault of the elements was just part of the party.

Pha-ngan island district chief Pornchai Lertchokechai said almost 20,000 people joined in the Full Moon party Sunday night.

Small- and medium-sized boat operators were barred from taking passengers to and from Thailand's popular tourist islands of Koh Samui, Koh Pha-ngan, and Koh Tao in Surat Thani province.

The tourists, stranded on Pha-ngan after joining the Full Moon party Sunday night, are leaving the island by ferries instead.

Strong wind puts speed boat service on hold, leaving a large number of tourists on the island. However, they would travel back by ferries if the weather didn't get worse, he said.

Local port official Direk Pliarun said that all small- and medium-sized boats were forbidden to leave shore.

--TNA 2005-09-19

[WhiteShiva]

Bangkok braces for severe floods

About 2,000 pumps have been set up to control flooding in the capital, as well as 1.7 million sandbags, which will be used to prevent water from the Chao Phya River overflowing into the capital, Bangkok Governor Apirak Kosayodhin announced.

Errr .... where they going to pump the water to? The pumping idea only works when sending the water to a lower surface level, and as the lower surface levels are the first to flood, this will be a bit like pushing it uphill with a broom..

I think you have got pumping confused with gravity........

Back to the topic - crossing the Rama V bridge this morning, I noticed the Chao Praya river water level was considerably higher than normal. Will be interesting to see what the situation will be like this evening......