Thailand Beefs Up Airport Flood Defences

[webfact]

Thailand beefs up airport flood defences

by Thanaporn Promyamyai

BANGKOK, October 11, 2011 (AFP) - Thailand has bolstered flood defences at Bangkok's main airport and other areas as it works to shield the city of 12 million people from the worst inundation in decades, officials said Tuesday.

Flood protection walls have been raised to a height of up to 3.5 metres (11.5 feet) at Suvarnabhumi, the country's main air hub, Airports of Thailand (AOT) acting director Somchai Sawasdipol told AFP.

He said the airport would continue to operate normally.

"I am confident (that we can prevent floods at Suvarnabhumi) but we will not be careless," Somchai said, adding that the airport had two major water pumping stations and a 24-hour team to monitor the situation.

At least 269 people have died in more than two months of floods that have damaged the homes and livelihoods of millions of people, according to the government. More than 200 people have died in neighbouring Cambodia.

Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra told a cabinet meeting that "the flood situation is serious, more than a tsunami because a tsunami comes and goes but floods last longer," government spokeswoman Titima Chaisaeng said.

The authorities have been building new flood walls in several locations in the north and east of the low-lying capital, where many residents were stocking up on sandbags, non-perishable food and other essential items.

Massive efforts are under way to stop the waters reaching the sprawling city, which has so far escaped serious flooding, unlike areas just north of the capital, which have seen water up to several metres deep.

A major industrial park home to companies including Japanese automaker Honda has been inundated.

A large amount of run-off water is expected to reach Bangkok in mid-October, while high tides will make it harder for the floods to flow out to sea.

"Whether we can protect Bangkok depends on three factors -- rain levels, run-off water from upcountry and the high tide," said Justice Minister Pracha Promnog, who heads the government's flood relief centre.

"The government will try its best, but no one can say what will happen. We will try to divert as much water into the sea as we can."

With the notable exception of the ancient city of Ayutthaya just north of Bangkok, where historic temples are partially under water, the country's top tourist destinations are mostly outside the worst affected areas.

Some foreign governments, including Australia, nevertheless warned their nationals to exercise caution.

Thailand's tourism minister said the disaster might lead to a dip in foreign visitor arrivals, along with the effect of the European debt crisis, but would not have a lasting impact.

"It may be affected by 10 to 20 percent but we will try to keep our target of 19 million visitors" this year, Chumpol Silapa-archa told reporters.

The cabinet agreed to earmark 10 percent of every ministry's budget, totalling about 80 billion baht, for flood relief. China, the United States, New Zealand and Japan have donated money and equipment to tackle the crisis.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-10-11

[KRS1]

...and the airport was built inside of a flood plain intended to specifically collect flood waters.

Let's not forget that there is also a very large underground river that flows directly underneath the airport !

Thank Thaksin for this one !

[wantan]

...and the airport was built inside of a flood plain intended to specifically collect flood waters.

Let's not forget that there is also a very large underground river that flows directly underneath the airport !

Thank Thaksin for this one !

Thank Taksin for what?

The airport?

The underground river?

The flood?

There are thousands people loosing their houses and swimming in flood for their lives. Who cares about an f***ing airport???

[hellodolly]

I copieed this from another thread.

"BANGKOK: -- The wide-spread flooding in many provinces is having no impact on the tourism sector for the moment, Tourism and Sports Minister Chumpol Slipa-archa said on Tuesday"

Now he says it is.

No sh-t who would have thought it.

Keep this clown away from any work to help he would just make it worse.

[Guest]

3.5 meter wall. That's big one.

Is there any pictures available of this wall?

[Payboy]

Thailand beefs up airport flood defences

walls have been raised to a height of up to 3.5 metres (11.5 feet) at Suvarnabhumi

Anyone know how high the average yellow shirt can jump?

[h90]

Thailand beefs up airport flood defences

walls have been raised to a height of up to 3.5 metres (11.5 feet) at Suvarnabhumi

Anyone know how high the average yellow shirt can jump?

3.6 Meter?

[kurnell]

Did she actually say the flood was worse than a tsunami? In what way?

[philw]

...and the airport was built inside of a flood plain intended to specifically collect flood waters.

Let's not forget that there is also a very large underground river that flows directly underneath the airport !

Thank Thaksin for this one !

Think it was about 30 years in the planning..........

Sort of predates Thaksin a bit actually.

Why do you feel the need to bring him up all the time, as it were ??

[KRS1]

...and the airport was built inside of a flood plain intended to specifically collect flood waters.

Let's not forget that there is also a very large underground river that flows directly underneath the airport !

Thank Thaksin for this one !

Thank Taksin for what?

The airport?

The underground river?

The flood?

There are thousands people loosing their houses and swimming in flood for their lives. Who cares about an f***ing airport???

This topis IS about the airport and it WILL affect tourism if its flooded.

[KRS1]

Who authorized the construction?

[h90]

...and the airport was built inside of a flood plain intended to specifically collect flood waters.

Let's not forget that there is also a very large underground river that flows directly underneath the airport !

Thank Thaksin for this one !

Thank Taksin for what?

The airport?

The underground river?

The flood?

There are thousands people loosing their houses and swimming in flood for their lives. Who cares about an f***ing airport???

This topis IS about the airport and it WILL affect tourism if its flooded.

hmm....does it affect the tourism when you close the airport which is used by 80 % of all tourists to come to Thailand.

Seems like a difficult question.

[londonthai]

3.5 meter wall. That's big one.

Is there any pictures available of this wall?

the earlier constructed walls are lower, but now were rised up to 3.5m. Those walls are ground made, covered with grass and bush, to strenthem them, not easily visible as such. Probably sand bags were used to make them higher so be might more visible

[wantan]

...and the airport was built inside of a flood plain intended to specifically collect flood waters.

Let's not forget that there is also a very large underground river that flows directly underneath the airport !

Thank Thaksin for this one !

Thank Taksin for what?

The airport?

The underground river?

The flood?

There are thousands people loosing their houses and swimming in flood for their lives. Who cares about an f***ing airport???

This topis IS about the airport and it WILL affect tourism if its flooded.

Yes, topic is the airport, not your political view. Everything that happens in Thailand affects the tourism. Even if the airport is not flooded directly, no passenger will be able to come to or to leave the airport if the whole area is flooded.

What is this for a mysterious "river in the underground"? Where does it come from, where does it go? Can you provide a link to some information? Thanks.

[whybother]

Have you seen how they're beefing up the defences of the MRT?

Metal fences along the windows of the entrance!! Not the entrances themselves, just along the windows.

The windows are already a metre above the ground. IF the water does get up that high, there is nothing from stopping from going down the lift well or the escalators (yet), but maybe they're planning on putting metal fences across the entrances as well.

[tw25rw]

...and the airport was built inside of a flood plain intended to specifically collect flood waters.

Let's not forget that there is also a very large underground river that flows directly underneath the airport !

Thank Thaksin for this one !

Amsterdam airport (AMS) is built on a former lake bed below sea level. Like AMS, BKK is protected from flooding by pumps and levees.

[scorpio2369]

...and the airport was built inside of a flood plain intended to specifically collect flood waters.

Let's not forget that there is also a very large underground river that flows directly underneath the airport !

Thank Thaksin for this one !

Thank Taksin for what?

The airport?

The underground river?

The flood?

There are thousands people loosing their houses and swimming in flood for their lives. Who cares about an f***ing airport???

This topis IS about the airport and it WILL affect tourism if its flooded.

Yes, topic is the airport, not your political view. Everything that happens in Thailand affects the tourism. Even if the airport is not flooded directly, no passenger will be able to come to or to leave the airport if the whole area is flooded.

What is this for a mysterious "river in the underground"? Where does it come from, where does it go? Can you provide a link to some information? Thanks.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suvarnabhumi_Airport

granted its wiki..so it can be somewhat inaccurate

but it is the only place i have found that has a wealth of information

[rubl]

Many quotes removed. One of them had "Thank Thaksin for this one !"

....

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Suvarnabhumi_Airport

granted its wiki..so it can be somewhat inaccurate

but it is the only place i have found that has a wealth of information

Land purchased 1973. I for one am glad to read no-one can put this one on k. Thaksin

Edited October 11, 2011 by rubl

[Roadman]

Did she actually say the flood was worse than a tsunami? In what way?

Is a lions bite worse than a tigers bite? Is water more destructive than fire?

Dear Yingluck was impressing or educating the cabinet with her knowledge. If it ain't floods stuffing the country it sure is the leadership.

[m3dave]

...and the airport was built inside of a flood plain intended to specifically collect flood waters.

Let's not forget that there is also a very large underground river that flows directly underneath the airport !

Thank Thaksin for this one !

Think it was about 30 years in the planning..........

Sort of predates Thaksin a bit actually.

Why do you feel the need to bring him up all the time, as it were ??

Why do people on here feel the need to have a pop at the thai goverment all the time? if you dont like it go back to the uk. yourll find it much easier to critisize the goverment there!!

[rubl]

...and the airport was built inside of a flood plain intended to specifically collect flood waters.

Let's not forget that there is also a very large underground river that flows directly underneath the airport !

Thank Thaksin for this one !

Think it was about 30 years in the planning..........

Sort of predates Thaksin a bit actually.

Why do you feel the need to bring him up all the time, as it were ??

Why do people on here feel the need to have a pop at the thai goverment all the time? if you dont like it go back to the uk. yourll find it much easier to critisize the goverment there!!

The 'go back to the UK' is a bit too specific unless you know philw or KRS1 are from there. People living in a country critisise the government that's normal, independent of whether it's 'their' country or not. People back home do the same. To bring up the 'go back if you don't like' is getting old hat, boring, without bringing anything to a discussion.

Better stick to the topic 'beef up airport flood defences', an airport build on land bought in 1973 when in Europe the oil crisis just started.

[Tropicalevo]

...and the airport was built inside of a flood plain intended to specifically collect flood waters.

Let's not forget that there is also a very large underground river that flows directly underneath the airport !

Thank Thaksin for this one !

Amsterdam airport (AMS) is built on a former lake bed below sea level. Like AMS, BKK is protected from flooding by pumps and levees.

But the pumps and levees at BKK were not designed/built by the Dutch (who have a fair bit of experience in this matter .)

[rubl]

Amsterdam airport (AMS) is built on a former lake bed below sea level. Like AMS, BKK is protected from flooding by pumps and levees.

But the pumps and levees at BKK were not designed/built by the Dutch (who have a fair bit of experience in this matter .)

We Dutch have a bit of an unfair advantage there. We've got lots of practice as Amsterdam Airport Schiphol opened the 16th of September 1916 and Suvarnabhumi somewhat later, on the 15th of September 2006 to be precise

[sjaak327]

...and the airport was built inside of a flood plain intended to specifically collect flood waters.

Let's not forget that there is also a very large underground river that flows directly underneath the airport !

Thank Thaksin for this one !

Think it was about 30 years in the planning..........

Sort of predates Thaksin a bit actually.

Why do you feel the need to bring him up all the time, as it were ??

Why do people on here feel the need to have a pop at the thai goverment all the time? if you dont like it go back to the uk. yourll find it much easier to critisize the goverment there!!

The 'go back to the UK' is a bit too specific unless you know philw or KRS1 are from there. People living in a country critisise the government that's normal, independent of whether it's 'their' country or not. People back home do the same. To bring up the 'go back if you don't like' is getting old hat, boring, without bringing anything to a discussion.

Better stick to the topic 'beef up airport flood defences', an airport build on land bought in 1973 when in Europe the oil crisis just started.

He does have a very valid point. The current flooding has nothing to do with the current government, neither with the previous one. It is overly annoying to have to wade through loads of posts complaining or shifting blame to the government, we get it, Thaksin sucks, Yinluck sucks, the constant whinging about these people is what really gets old. Elections are over and done with, the Thai people have chosen the current government, deal with it already.

There are people who actually come here to get some hard news about the situation, something that say three years ago was pretty much doable on this forum. I am afraid nowadays that is not the case, not only one needs to filter out about 50% of nonsense political bullshit, it also seems that the news service here has gone down the drain since the Nation got some influence here..

[BKKBrit]

He does have a very valid point. The current flooding has nothing to do with the current government, neither with the previous one. It is overly annoying to have to wade through loads of posts complaining or shifting blame to the government, we get it, Thaksin sucks, Yinluck sucks, the constant whinging about these people is what really gets old. Elections are over and done with, the Thai people have chosen the current government, deal with it already.

There are people who actually come here to get some hard news about the situation, something that say three years ago was pretty much doable on this forum. I am afraid nowadays that is not the case, not only one needs to filter out about 50% of nonsense political bullshit, it also seems that the news service here has gone down the drain since the Nation got some influence here..

Well said that man.

[Rodz]

He does have a very valid point. The current flooding has nothing to do with the current government, neither with the previous one. It is overly annoying to have to wade through loads of posts complaining or shifting blame to the government, we get it, Thaksin sucks, Yinluck sucks, the constant whinging about these people is what really gets old. Elections are over and done with, the Thai people have chosen the current government, deal with it already.

There are people who actually come here to get some hard news about the situation, something that say three years ago was pretty much doable on this forum. I am afraid nowadays that is not the case, not only one needs to filter out about 50% of nonsense political bullshit, it also seems that the news service here has gone down the drain since the Nation got some influence here..

Agree 100%

[david555]

3.5 meter wall. That's big one.

Is there any pictures available of this wall?

can serve also to keep the yellow shirts out when " the boss is coming back from Dubai "

[moe666]

As usual the usual suspects, if you donot like it go home, thakinsin did it no he didn't. The thais maybe incompetent but the airport seems to be working ok I have been thru there many times and no problem. They probably did just fine on the flood protection. But remember boys and girls this is some of the worst flooding in 50 years. If you want to blame someone have a talk with mother nature and see how that goes.

[mdechgan]

It is true that the airport was built in a low lying marsh that was meant for flood waters.

Back in the day many people argued building an airport there would cause possible flooding in Bkk because of the lack of run off.

The 3 meter wall isn't really a wall, but more like an earth dyke.

One can easily see it if you enter the airport from King Kaew road or the other east one from Bang-Na road.

You can't miss it there are canals on both sides of the dyke.

[webfact]

Suvarnabhumi Airport contingency plan in place

BANGKOK, Oct 12 – Thailand's Suvarnabhumi Airport is well-prepared for any emergency with flood-protection measures and its contingency plan is operational to cope with any possible flooding, according to the airport spokesperson.

Thailand’s largest airport has sought cooperation from the Rural Highways Department to dredge Lad Krabang canal to make full use of its capacity and more quickly and efficiently drain floodwater to the sea. The Royal Irrigation Department has also been asked to quickly pump the gathering floodwater to the sea.

To prevent the inner areas of the airport from flooding, the airport has teamed up with the Rural Highways Department to strengthen earthen dykes around the area. In addition, a water-retention reservoir within the airport compound is now 25 per cent of full capacity, one million cubic metres, and is able to absorb as much as 3 million cubic metres, according to the airport spokesperson.

To ensure its flood-control efficiency, Ms Wilaiwan said the airport has put in place its contingency plan to cope with the situation. Airlines, business operators as well as state agencies have been given details of the plan which is ready to put into effect once the situation warrants.

The spokesperson explained that the airport's flood-prevention system includes three-metre high 23.5 kilometre earthen floodwall, a surrounding reservoir, and six drainage canals. Two water-pumping stations equipped with four water pumps each on the southern boundary of the airport. Each water pump has ability to pump out one million cubic metres of water a day.

The system is designed to withstand rainfalls as much as 149 millimetres a day. The highest rainfall recorded at Suvarnabhumi since it started operations in 2006 was 105.2 millimetres in Oct 2009. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-10-12