Thailand Beefs Up Airport Flood Defences

[luther]

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.

Agreed. I've only been on a year and already noticed a change. The other week I posted a thread asking if anyone knew a goodplace to get a sewing machine repaired in Chiang Mai. The first reply was, "Go buy another one."

Back to the airport. Last night I saw a tweet at the bottom of Thai Visa saying the pumping stations at the airport had stopped. Any follow up?

[david555]

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.

Agreed. I've only been on a year and already noticed a change. The other week I posted a thread asking if anyone knew a goodplace to get a sewing machine repaired in Chiang Mai. The first reply was, "Go buy another one."

Back to the airport. Last night I saw a tweet at the bottom of Thai Visa saying the pumping stations at the airport had stopped. Any follow up?

yes, the strongest chain is NOT stronger than the weakest chuckle

[zappalot]

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.

Thai maths?

the reservoir can keep 3 million cm3, now it is full with 1 million cm3 which is 25%?

[david555]

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.

Thai maths?

the reservoir can keep 3 million cm3, now it is full with 1 million cm3 which is 25%?

Maybe Thai water id different one , not forget .......".Amazing Thailand" expression

[whybother]

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.

Thai maths?

the reservoir can keep 3 million cm3, now it is full with 1 million cm3 which is 25%?

Maybe it's lost in translation ...

"is able to absorb 3 million m3 MORE"

[pauljones]

The Bank of Thailand estimated the last airport closure cost 280 Billion Baht in losses.

[khunron13]

"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."I hope for the sake of Thailand and it's future that this is a misquote, and she didn't actually make such an asinine statement!

[Bpuumike]

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.

Thai maths?

the reservoir can keep 3 million cm3, now it is full with 1 million cm3 which is 25%?

My thoughts exactly. This isn't nit-picking, the contradiction within the same sentence only leads to a loss of confidence in the whole statement.

[Rosco911]

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.

Yes he did say that. Amazed at one day can do. I wonder why they are slashing hotel prices by 50% on the islands possibly he also said they can swim there from BKK.

[ronthai]

...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.

Yes, but then we Dutch know how to handle our water (until Greenland and The Artic melts away )

Edited October 12, 2011 by ronthai

[philw]

"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."I hope for the sake of Thailand and it's future that this is a misquote, and she didn't actually make such an asinine statement!

Not sure it's asinine.

Long term flooding is pretty serious and could go on for 1 or 2 months.

Also you can't quite be certain about the translation.

There could be some ambiguity in choice of words selected.

[arrowsdawdle]

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

TV news showed backhoes piling them higher with loose dirt.

[bangkokrick]

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.

Yes it's true. Google it.

Suvarnabhumi Airport, the new Bangkok International Airport, aviation hub and gateway to Thailand was raised from the boggy Nong Ngu Hao or Cobra Swamp in an effort that took 33 years.

[khaowong1]

...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 .)

Thank you, I was thinking the same thing.

[tw25rw]

Lots of, if not most, airports are built on flood plains. It's where the flattest land is. It isn't some huge screw-up by Thai planners to build it there.

[dutch54]

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 .)

Thank you, I was thinking the same thing.

If we in the Netherlands would have had the same amount of rain as in Thailand my feet would

be wet too although I live on the sixh floor.

[osiboy]

can anyone tell me how much rainfall there has been ?compared to the UK for example , how long would it take in your average uk month to get this much rain ?? i thought wales was wet but <deleted> me this is crazy, !, and when the rain stops, how long before its all gone ? ive been in a few floods in thailand but they were always local, covering about 10m2 , nothing like this.

[rametindallas]

"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."I hope for the sake of Thailand and it's future that this is a misquote, and she didn't actually make such an asinine statement!

Since the flood waters are expected to stay around for up to two months and considering the area under water (and therefore unproductive factories, fields, and businesses) I would have to agree with the PM that the flood is worse than the tsunami in all aspect excepting loss of life. far more people are negatively affected adn losses to the economy are far greater by the flood than the tsunami so why is her statement 'asinine' exactly?

[rametindallas]

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.

Thai maths?

the reservoir can keep 3 million cm3, now it is full with 1 million cm3 which is 25%?

My thoughts exactly. This isn't nit-picking, the contradiction within the same sentence only leads to a loss of confidence in the whole statement.

From Wikipedia

Flood ProtectionSuvarnabhumi Airport has taken numerous measures to protect it from flooding. The airport area is surrouded by a 3 metre high, 23.5 km long earth dyke. Within the area protected by the dyke there are numerous canals, including one running along the inside of the dyke, which drain into 6 reservoirs. The reservoirs hold up to 4 million cubic metes of water. At the southern boundary of the airport there are two water pumping stations, each has 4 pumps that pump 12 cubic metres (12,000 litres) of water per second ( or 1 million cubic metres per day). The pumped water is discharged into 2 canals, Khlong Lat Krabang and Khlong Bang Chalong, which flow south to the Gulf of Thailand. ^[27]

[brianb1944]

...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???

People who have lost everything in the flood, such as myself, and who need to fly in or out of Thailand may care about the airport.

[plumeria]

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?

Maybe higher than if they are one of the Santi Asoke members.

Their health food cooperative is extensive and impressive and yesterday their headquarters on Nawamin Road was one of the few places that still had dry goods for sale.

Maybe that's because they sell red, brown and other unbleached rices which some people might consider a "last resort".

[robokop]

...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 !

Property for airport was purchased in 1973-look it up.

Then fill all of us in on when Thaksin was in power.

[robokop]

...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???

Airport property was purchased in 1973, long before Thaksin. Just a mindless blamegame.

[robokop]

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.

Sort of like the storm Katrina that hit New Orleans and the flooding that took place there. Of course blame was put on Bush, not mother nature. Flood height was greater then protective walls around New Orleans were built to contain and still, after all these years, the billions of dollars set aside to improve flood protection for New Orleans has not been done.

[wantan]

3.5 meter wall. That's big one.

Is there any pictures available of this wall?

The pictures were taken today (13. October 2011) at around 4pm. There are strong efforts to top up the flood protection dyke.

Position Google Map:

Position Google Map:

Position Google Map:

[LTGTR]

Is she really that stupid?A flood is worse than a tsunami! Amazing.

[h90]

Maybe higher than if they are one of the Santi Asoke members.

Their health food cooperative is extensive and impressive and yesterday their headquarters on Nawamin Road was one of the few places that still had dry goods for sale.

Maybe that's because they sell red, brown and other unbleached rices which some people might consider a "last resort".

and they are lightweight....

yes we try to buy from them: Real good products but most of the Thais don't like the brown rice

[verywierd]

<br />Is she really that stupid?A flood is worse than a tsunami!<img src='http://static.thaivisa.com/forum/public/style_emoticons/default/blink.gif' class='bbc_emoticon' alt='' /> Amazing.<br />

<br /><br /><br />

In terms of the number of people killed and rendered homeless, spread of disease, infrastructure damage, and the time needed for recovery, floods can definitely be worse than a tsunami.

For instance, a UN report stated that the 2010 flood in Pakistan caused more damage and suffering than the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami, the 2005 Kashmir earthquake and the 2010 Haiti earthquake combined.

[jocsum]

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://wwwrcamnl.wr.usgs.gov/rgws/Unesco/PDF-Chapters/Chapter9-10.pdf

Here is a link for you. This is what the "river" consists of.

[fantuzi]

Is she really that stupid?A flood is worse than a tsunami! Amazing.

yes,truly amazing stupidity - WHO?u