Thai Flood Death Toll Reaches 130: Govt

[webfact]

Thai flood toll reaches 130: govt

BANGKOK, September 21, 2011 (AFP) - Almost two months of severe flooding in Thailand have left at least 130 people dead, the government said Wednesday as it stepped up efforts to protect the low-lying capital.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra ordered army and naval boats to be deployed with their engines running while stationary on the Chao Phraya River in the hope that the motion from the propellers speeds up the flow.

"I have ordered 30 ships to be deployed in seven locations across Bangkok and start their engines as soon as possible so we can see a quick result. This will help push water back to the sea," she told reporters.

The floods, which began in the north, have hit a total of 56 provinces, with 24 still waterlogged. The homes and livelihoods of 1.9 million people have been affected, according to the government.

"The weather this year is very severe and changeable," said Chalit Damrongsak, director general of the Irrigation Department.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-09-21

[webfact]

Flood situation still worrying; death toll reaches 130

BANGKOK, Sept 20 - Thailand's Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation on Wednesday reported flooding is ongoing in 24 provinces and that total fatalities have now hit 130 persons, with two persons still missing since the country was majorly impacted by tropical storm Nock-Ten on July 25.

Flooding in many provinces is still worrying and is likely to intensify.

In Chai Nat, earthen flood protection dykes in the provincial seat collapsed, letting floodwater to flow into residential areas, commercial buildings, a school, resorts and farmlands. The town's elderly, handicapped and children were evacuated. Local authorities are assessing damage and cooperated with agencies concerned to repair the flood prevention embankments.

In Uthai Thani, government offices and houses are submerged. Only heavy and large vehicles, tractors and lorries, were used to carry civil servants and local people.

The Uthai Thani Juvenile and Family Court has closed from Sept 21 to 30 due to high flood level.

In Phitsanulok, flooding has extended in the provincial seat and many roads are impassible. Some local residents moved to stay at the roadsides with their pets.

In Lopburi, farmers harvested their paddy prematurely otherwise their crop would be totally destroyed by the flood.

In the Northeast, the flood situation in many provinces is critical. In Chaiyaphum, floods in ten districts began become foul. The number of patients with dengue fever, athlete’s foot, H1N1 flu and Leptospirosis has increased.

The Department of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation warned local residents in the North, Northeast particularly at foothills, in low-lying areas and near waterways to beware of heavy rain, flash flood and mudslide this week.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Wednesday met with agencies concerned to discuss and resolve the flood problem and to follow His Majesty the King’s advice to divert flood water to sea.

The monarch again recommended speeding the diversion of floodwater into sea as soon as possible and advised proper management of sluice gates to control flooding.

Four boats from the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Royal Thai Navy, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) and the Port Authority of Thailand (PAT) began operations to divert water from the Chao Phraya River into the sea during high tide on Wednesday morning.

Due to northern run-off and forecast heavy rainfall in the Northeast from Sept 21-25, Suvarnabhumi Airport spokesperson Vilaiwan Nadvilai on Wednesday reported readiness for flooding on the grounds of the country’s main international airport.

Ms Vilaiwan said that the water situation in and around the airport remained normal.

According to the spokesperson, the airport has 23.5 kilometres of 3 metre high flood prevention embankments surrounding it, an efficient drainage system with two water pumping stations in the South of the airport, and retention ponds with a storage capacity of 4 million cubic metres of water.

Currently only one million cubic metres of water, 25 per cent of its capacity, is contained in the water retention area.

In addition, airport officials coordinated with the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) which has another eight water pumping stations south of the airport. The stations have the capacity to drain 30 million cubic metres of water per day from two canals.

The Royal Irrigation Department has well-planned measures to tackle possible floods in the area. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-09-21

[Toolz]

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra ordered army and naval boats to be deployed with their engines running while stationary on the Chao Phraya River in the hope that the motion from the propellers speeds up the flow.

"I have ordered 30 ships to be deployed in seven locations across Bangkok and start their engines as soon as possible so we can see a quick result. This will help push water back to the sea," she told reporters.

Hum. Well I think that's it for Yingluck. Credibility all up in a puff of smoke.

Will this go down as the current administration's "GT200" moment, I wonder?

[whybother]

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra ordered army and naval boats to be deployed with their engines running while stationary on the Chao Phraya River in the hope that the motion from the propellers speeds up the flow.

"I have ordered 30 ships to be deployed in seven locations across Bangkok and start their engines as soon as possible so we can see a quick result. This will help push water back to the sea," she told reporters.

Hum. Well I think that's it for Yingluck. Credibility all up in a puff of smoke.

Will this go down as the current administration's "GT200" moment, I wonder?

What credibility?

[ratcatcher]

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra ordered army and naval boats to be deployed with their engines running while stationary on the Chao Phraya River in the hope that the motion from the propellers speeds up the flow.

"I have ordered 30 ships to be deployed in seven locations across Bangkok and start their engines as soon as possible so we can see a quick result. This will help push water back to the sea," she told reporters.

Hum. Well I think that's it for Yingluck. Credibility all up in a puff of smoke.

Will this go down as the current administration's "GT200" moment, I wonder?

What credibility?

I know the RTN had a large number of unused landing craft, tied up on Nonthaburi waterfront,, which would have made upriver assistance easier, but not sure how they could get past Nakhon Sawan

However the idea of using reverse propellers on vessels is novel to say the least.

Perhaps someone on this board with marine experience could attest to the in/efficiency of this method?

The P.M. seems to think it's a neat idea. Vroom vroom!!

[macdaddy]

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra ordered army and naval boats to be deployed with their engines running while stationary on the Chao Phraya River in the hope that the motion from the propellers speeds up the flow.

"I have ordered 30 ships to be deployed in seven locations across Bangkok and start their engines as soon as possible so we can see a quick result. This will help push water back to the sea," she told reporters.

Hum. Well I think that's it for Yingluck. Credibility all up in a puff of smoke.

Will this go down as the current administration's "GT200" moment, I wonder?

In this case, we are lucky that she is probably lying. it will probably be 30 fishing boats, or 10 longtails.

[boldfj]

It is simply attrocious how all of the flood management measures are simply to protect Bangkok, while so many provinces north and northeast of Bangkok suffer greatly with flooding. I don't understand how the fact that 24 provinces and 1.9 million people being affected by flooding, while Bangkok declares that there is no flooding in the capital city, is considered a major success by the BMA. Sure Bangkok has no flooding!!! All of the water that could have flooded Bangkok has flooded the homes and farm lands of the poor people living along the Chao Praya River north of Bangkok, Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi. I've personally driven through Singburi, Ang Thong and Nakhon Sawan in the past few days and seen the effects of the flooding on the many homes near the river. And this is not the first time that this has happened. It is almost a regular event every year.

It is about time the Thai government develops a plan to protect all of the people living along the Chao Praya River, and rivers feeding into it (Ping, Wang, Nan, Yom, etc.) and not just protect the people living in Bangkok (and Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani provinces) along the Chao Praya River. Until such a plan is put in place and all people are protected from flooding, there should be no claims that everything is good regarding flooding in Bangkok. Perhaps Bangkok should sincerely thank the people in the provinces north and northeast of the city for their sacrifices and their suffering, including the 130 people who have died. I saw the other day a rice farmer harvest his rice crop well before it was fully matured, simply to get something out of the crop rather than loose it all to the flooding. That is quite sad!! These, in my opinion, are the real people who have prevented Bangkok from having any problems during this current flooding situation.

Edited September 21, 2011 by boldfj

[ratcatcher]

It is simply attrocious how all of the flood management measures are simply to protect Bangkok, while so many provinces north and northeast of Bangkok suffer greatly with flooding. I don't understand how the fact that 24 provinces and 1.9 million people being affected by flooding, while Bangkok declares that there is no flooding in the capital city, is considered a major success by the BMA. Sure Bangkok has no flooding!!! All of the water that could have flooded Bangkok has flooded the homes and farm lands of the poor people living along the Chao Praya River north of Bangkok, Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi. I've personally driven through Singburi, Ang Thong and Nakhon Sawan in the past few days and seen the effects of the flooding on the many homes near the river. And this is not the first time that this has happened. It is almost a regular event every year.

It is about time the Thai government develops a plan to protect all of the people living along the Chao Praya River, and rivers feeding into it (Ping, Wang, Nan, Yom, etc.) and not just protect the people living in Bangkok (and Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani provinces) along the Chao Praya River. Until such a plan is put in place and all people are protected from flooding, there should be no claims that everything is good regarding flooding in Bangkok. Perhaps Bangkok should sincerely thank the people in the provinces north and northeast of the city for their sacrifices and their suffering, including the 130 people who have died. I saw the other day a rice farmer harvest his rice crop well before it was fully matured, simply to get something out of the crop rather than loose it all to the flooding. That is quite sad!! These, in my opinion, are the real people who have prevented Bangkok from having any problems during this current flooding situation.

Very well stated.

Worthy of publication in the newspapers both Thai & English.

Remember "No flooding in Bangkok!

[FOODLOVER]

"Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra ordered army and naval boats to be deployed with their engines running while stationary on the Chao Phraya River in the hope that the motion from the propellers speeds up the flow."

That's it? This is the plan? Whats the back up, synchronized flushing of the toilets or the top secret giant sponge?

Edited September 21, 2011 by FOODLOVER

[rubl]

...

I don't understand how the fact that 24 provinces and 1.9 million people being affected by flooding, while Bangkok declares that there is no flooding in the capital city, is considered a major success by the BMA. Sure Bangkok has no flooding!!! All of the water that could have flooded Bangkok has flooded the homes and farm lands of the poor people living along the Chao Praya River north of Bangkok, Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi.

...

Even though I snipped most of the post, I really agree with it. I just picked out this part to say that the BMA takes care of Bangkok. So, 'no flooding in BKK' can be considered a success for the BMA. Of course water not in BKK has been pumped outside and with the Cobra swamp no longer a catch area, the water goes elsewhere. With luck 'only' two feet of water in the livingroom for a few months, with less luck two metres

For years already, not really improving. Just reacting when the rains start again. TiT ?