Thailand Live Tuesday 11 Oct 2011

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Thai Rice Packers Assoc confirms enough rice amid flooding

BANGKOK, 11 October 2011 (NNT) – The Thai Rice Packers Association has reassured the public of sufficient rice supply in the midst of floods, adding that rice under the Blue Flag program is now available nationwide.

President of the Thai Rice Packers Association Somkiat Makkayathorn revealed that the association was cooperating with the Department of Internal Trade in distributing packed rice from the Blue Flag project to all areas across the country for sale at one single price. He then admitted that a rice shortage of 60-70 percent had occurred during the past week; however, the situation had already returned to normal.

Meanwhile, President of the Thai Wholesalers and Retailers Association Somchai Pornrattanacharoen has requested all member wholesalers in ten flood-affected provinces, consisting of Bangkok, Nakhon Sawan, Suphan Buri, Nonthaburi, Saraburi, Prachin Buri, Nakhon Nayok, Chai Nat, Ayutthaya and Phitsanulok, to sell their goods to flood victims at discount prices.

Instant noodles are to be sold at 150 THB per pack, as opposed to the regular price of 180 THB. Five-kilogram bags of rice will be offered at no more than 90 THB each while drinking water will be sold at 4-4.50 THB per 500 cc bottle.

-- NNT 2011-10-11

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Tourism Minister Chumpol says floods not affecting Thai tourism. Is he serious? /via@tulsathit /via@Kom_chad_luek:

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Flood Crisis Continues, Nakhon Sawan Dykes Collapse

The flood crisis in many provinces continues to intensify with no signs of easing.

Distressed villagers are requesting more immediate emergency assistance.

A 100-meter stretch of the dykes along the Ping River in Nakhon Sawan collapsed yesterday due to high currents and runoff.

Sirens blared across the municipality to alert residents to evacuate the area and get to one of the five evacuation centers nearby.

As of now, runoff from the Ping and Wang rivers has submerged the province under a meter deep floodwater.

Residents and soldiers rushed to rebuild the levee with sandbags and stones, but they were not able to protect the downtown area against more runoff, as the river water level has exceeded the embankment by two meters.

Meanwhile, the water situation in Muang District remains woeful.

Traffic around the downtown area was severely congested as residents scramble to evacuate and move their belongings out of flooded homes and shops.

Elsewhere, flooding in Phitsanulok's Bang Rakam District remains critical as runoffs from Sukhothai and Kamphaeng Phet provinces continue to inundate the district.

At the same time, the water level of Yom River continues to rise.

There, water is 17 centimeters away from overflowing the embankment. Locals are being warned to stay alert and prepare for possible flooding.

Furthermore, the water discharged from the Bhumibol Dam has reached Kamphaeng Phet's Kosampeenakorn District, flooding the village along the Ping riverbanks.

The 50-centimeter floodwater has paralyzed Paholyothin Road, which leads to the North.

Meanwhile, the flood sitution in Nonthaburi's Pakkred District is severe, as much of the area is under two meters of floodwater.

Locals are calling for immediate assistance, as water levels there are expected to continue to rise.

As for Ubon Ratchathani Province, the local administration is speeding up its work to dredge the swamp and are preparing for water discharged from Khon Kaen's Ubonrat Dam and Nakhon Ratchasima's Lamtakong Dam.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-11

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Ayutthaya Adjust Flood Relief Strategy

Flood relief plans have been adjusted with the top priority being to rescue victims in Ayutthaya Province.

The flood situation in Ayutthaya Province is critical as water-levels there continue to rise.

The latest updates are showing that large volumes of water have flown into Koh Muang and are flooding 16 districts in Ayutthaya Province.

Officials have adjusted flood relief plans in order to assist victims more effectively.

All routes to downtown Ayutthaya have been closed to facilitate evacuation of stranded victims in Koh Muang and the surrounding area, including patients stranded at Ayutthaya Hospital.

A temporary field hospital has been set up at the Woraburi Hotel.

Patients in critical conditions have been transfered to nearby hospitals by helicopter.

Parked cars that have been blocking road lanes have been removed, including on the Preedee-Thamrong Bridge.

These steps have helped ease traffic congestion, and allowed officials to assist victims more efficiently.

A control center and a temporary shelter at the Ayutthaya Government Center and Maha Chulalongkorn Rajavithayalai University have been set up, with the capacity to facilitate more than 2,000 people.

If the number of victims surpasses 2,000, they will be directed to Thammasat University's Rangsit Campus.

Meanwhile, a flood relief plan was amended during a meeting between Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and related units.

The army and the Royal Irrigation Department have been designated to lead the flood relief efforts.

The latest updates are that the floodwater has flown into industrial estates, including Rojana Industrial Park where the floodwater is at phases 2 and 3 and flooded with over one meter of water.

Phases 1 and 2 of Rojana Industrial Park are home to 223 factories, whereas phase 1 alone has 179 factories.

One of the factories affected by floods is the Honda Factory, where approximately 300 cars have been inundated.

Damage to the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand and Rojana Industrial Park in Ayutthaya Province is estimated to be roughly 50 million baht so far.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-11

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Marine Traffic in Ayutthaya Province Closed Til Oct 15

The Marine Department has ordered the halt of river traffic along the Chao Phraya and Pasak rivers to prevent further damage and to prevent further inundation of communities and historical sites along the rivers.

The water traffic ban will be in effect until October 15.

Marine Department Director-General Tawanrat Onsira disclosed that the department has temporarily ordered segments of the Chao Phraya and Pa Sak rivers off limits to boats.

A longer stretch of the rivers will also be banned further, from Phanan Choeng Worawihan Temple in Ayutthaya Province and upstream, which will be enforced through October 15.

Those found to be in violation of the order will be fined up to 5,000 baht, and their certificates will be seized by the department for up to six months.

The ban is the department’s attempt to facilitate the water diversion operation and to prevent the water from further sloshing onto inundated residential areas and historical sites along the rivers.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-11

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PM disagrees with proposed special public holiday

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Democrats Call on Pheu Thai MPs to Stop Creating Disunity

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Suvarnabhumi Airport has flood prevention measures in place while Nakhon Sawan is reverting to plan B to handle flooding /

Ayutthaya governor says HRH Princess Sirindhorn will be visiting flood victims in Wangnoi this afternoon /

Repaired Bangchomsri floodgate in Singh Buri will help slow down water flow by 70% /

/TAN_Network

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Foreign countries indicate readiness to assist Thai flood relief efforts

BANGKOK, 11 October 2011 (NNT) - China and the United States have indicated their readiness to assist the Thai government in relieving repercussions from floods.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said the People’s Republic of China has already donated assistance in the form of cash and necessary items for flood victims worth altogether 80 million THB. The United States has extended monetary assistance to the Thai Red Cross Society and is sending its personnel to work with Thai officials from the Flood Relief Operation Center in visiting flood victims.

US Ambassador to Thailand Kristie Kenney yesterday visited the Flood Relief Operation Center at Don Mueang Airport where she met Transport Minister Air Chief Marshal Sukumpol Suwanatat. The envoy conveyed US Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton’s sympathy for flood victims, saying the US was willing to provide long-term assistance particularly in the field of weather forecasting technologies to Thailand.

Meanwhile, Foreign Ministry’s spokesperson Thani Thongphakdi said the US Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Kurt M Campbell, during a meeting with Foreign Minister Surapong Tovichakchaikul yesterday, affirmed that the United States would provide more assistance for flood victims. He also expressed the US determination to upgrade the Thai-US relations. Both also discussed a possibility for Prime Minister Yingluck to meet with President Barack Obama on the sidelines of the East Asian summit in Bali, Indonesia.

Mrs Clinton is also scheduled to visit Thailand after her participation in the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) 2011 meeting in November.

-- NNT 2011-10-11

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Cost of sandbags is now about 60 Baht! If you can get them that is /via@RichardBarrow /via@seacorro

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Swedish expat dies on notorious Phuket coastal road

The road from Patong to Karon has been the scene of many motorbike crashes

over the years. There has been no public transport between the towns since 1994.

Photo; Gazette file

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Thammasat University Rangsit: We need everything. Donate what u want & we'll forward oversupplies to other places. /via@tulsathit

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ppl at Rangsit market have started building barriers w/ bricks as sand has become scarce now /via@tulsathit /via@Juarawee

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Locals Along Major Canals Concerned Over Possible Overflowing

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Reminder: Today you can buy T-shirt for Bt250 or donate to help #ThaiFlood victims with RS artists at Siam Paragon from 1-5pm. /via@veen_NT

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Nikon has informed Tokyo Stock Exchange that it has halted its production in Rojana Industrial Park, Ayutthaya. /via@ThanongK

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Flood-related parking at Suvarnabhumi airport is available in zone B-F Call- 02-1326535 /via@veen_NT /via@GCC_1111

Siam Cement stocks climbed 5.5 per cent to 290 baht just now on speculation it would benefits from after-flood reconstruction. /via @ThanongK:

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Bt2 billion emergency fund approved for helping flood victims

The Cabinet Tuesday approved Bt2 billion emergency spending for the evacuation of flood victims.

-- The Nation 2011-10-11

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SET closes up at midday break by 21.19 points at 944.36 with value of Bt18.13 bln on foreign buying /TAN_Network

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Phatthalung-Bangkok air-conditioned bus overturned in Chumphon at 1.15 am, killing 5 passengers – all Thais. /via@paisal_nt

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PM to Allow 3-day Leave for State Officials Severely Affected by Floods

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100 crocodiles escape in Thailand floods

About 100 crocodiles have escaped from a farm during floods in Thailand, prompting authorities to call for calm.

Picture: Alex Coppel Source: Herald Sun

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Five killed in Chumphon bus accident

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Thai Corporate income tax will be reduced from 30 per cent to 23 per cent next year, and to 20 per cent in 2013, says Thai Finance Minister /Bangkok Post

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Parliament meetings cancelled

The Nation

The House of Representatives and the Senate will cancel all meetings scheduled for this week and next Monday in order to allow lawmakers to assist their constituents affected by the floods.

Deputy House Speaker Chareon Chankomol said on Tuesday that meetings for tomorrow and the following day has been called off. The joint House-Senate session on Monday will be rescheduled at a later date.

Lawmakers are expected to fan out to organise relief supplies for their constituents, he said.

-- The Nation 2011-10-11

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Abhisit-Yingluck meeting on flood relief

The Nation

Democrat Party leader Abhisit Vejjajiva on Tuesday met with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra to submit a memorandum outlining the opposition's ideas on flood relief operations.

The Abhisit-Yingluck meeting took place at the National Flood Relief Centre, located at Don Muang Airport.

Abhisit said he suggested the government to finetune its evacuation and relief operations at variour shelters.

He urged the government to open up the cargo area at the airport as a new shelter.

Before talks with Yingluck, he paid a visist at a shelter for Ayutthaya residents at the Thammasat University, Rangsit Campus.

-- The Nation 2011-10-11

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16 districts in Ayutthaya are "100 %" under water. /via@tulsathit /via@suthichai /via@ittipat_Rw

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Eastern Bkk areas under close watch remain Min Buri, Klong Samwa, Nongjok and Lad Krabang: Bkk governor /via@tulsathit

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AFP: Accused global arms dealer Bout's trial set to open

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AFP: Myanmar to free thousands of prisoners

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