Thailand Live Thursday 13 Oct 2011

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Thai stock index opens on Thursday at 959.11, up 6.34 points /MCOT

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Pathum Thani sees flood water level rise

Nakhon Sawan flooding still critical but reports of locals refusing to evacuate

Flood barriers at Ayutthaya's Hitech Ind Park reinforced to prevent flooding;roads in Wangnoi flooded causing 10-km traffic

/TAN_Network

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BNO NEWS: STRONG 6.8-MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE STRIKES SOUTH OF BALI /via@mpoppel

No tsunami alert /via@mpoppel

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Waist deep water in Bang Bua Thong Nonthaburi

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Flood Hotline Opened for SMEs' Complaints

The Office of Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion has launched a flood hotline, 1303, to respond to the needs of operators affected by nationwide flooding.

Director of the Office of Small and Medium Enterprise Promotion Yutthasak Supasorn said his office has opened a flood hotline at 1303 to receive complaints and inquiries regarding rehabilitation, financial assistance and insurance, from small and medium business operators.

He added that rehabilitation work will be carried out promptly as the flood situation in some areas has started to improve.

Yutthasak said officials will advise SMEs on how to obtain financial aid and solutions from SME Banks and other commercial banks, in the event that they are unable to meet the deadline for delivery.

It is projected that SMEs affected by flooding will need cash assistance for at least six months to restore their businesses.

The SME promotion office will propose that the government arrange low-interest loans and extend the loan program to prevent job losses, a partnership between the Social Security Office and SME Banks.

Yutthasak then proposed increasing the loan amount offered by SME Banks for flood-hit SMEs from 2 billion baht to 10 billion baht, and the loan limit for an individual operator to 30 to 40 million baht.

He also called for a lower interest rate.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-13

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Panit to be chief ombudsman

The Nation

Ombudsman Panit Nitithanprapas has been elected in a peer vote to become chief ombudsman.

Pending the royal command on her appointment, Panit is the first female to lead the Office of Ombudsman, an independent organisation under Parliament.

On October 3, the Senate voted to approve the nomination of Pravich Ratanapian as ombudsman, replacing Pramote Chotimongkol, who was then concurrently chief ombudsman, due to the completion of his term.

Parliament President Somsak Kiatsuranont chaired the selection process to recommend Pravich's nomination.

Pravich is the former Science minister under the Thaksin Shinawatra government in 2005.

Three ombudsmans, Panit, Pravich and Sirachai Charoenpanij, subsequently voted on the chief ombudsman.

-- The Nation 2011-10-13

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Floods Force Train Service Suspensions

The State Railway of Thailand announced that heavy flooding has halted service on 18 routes heading to the North.

The State Railway of Thailand has temporarily suspended train service on 18 routes running to the North due to safety concerns.

Consequently, services from Bangkok to Chiang Mai have all been suspended.

Meanwhile, trains running to the Northeast will leave Bangkok's Makkasan station and go to Chachoengsao before heading to Nong Khai and Ubon Ratchathani provinces.

For more information on train services, contact the State Railway of Thailand's 24-hour at 1690 hotline or log on to www.railway.co.th.

Meanwhile, the Transport Company said its service is continuing as usual to facilitate those in need of transportation.

However, it will avoid flooded areas and pass through Nakhon Sawan's Tak Fah and Ta Klee districts, which are not affected by the ongoing flooding.

At the same time, Chao Phraya Express Boat Managing Director Parinya Rakwatin reported on situation for the Chao Phraya River.

He said the express boat is running as usual.

However, the speed of the boats is limited to ensure safety and to minimize the adverse effect on those living on the riverbanks as well as to protect the embankments.

Whether services will be suspended depends on the Harbour Department.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-13

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Message from the Consul at the British Embassy in Bangkok to British Community Groups

I’m sure you are all keeping a close eye on the weather and flood situation wherever you are in Thailand. We too are monitoring the situation closely so that we can provide up-to-date and accurate information to British visitors and residents. I thought you might be interested to see the current wording (12 October) about the flooding in the Travel Advice and have inserted the main summary below:

September and October are the height of the monsoon season in Thailand. Heavy rainfall across the country continues to cause widespread flooding, flash floods and mudslides and has resulted in disruption and over 260 deaths. The most affected areas are the north, north-east and central Thailand. Airports, including Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport are operating normally. There has been some disruption to road and rail transport, particularly on routes north of Bangkok. If you are in an affected area exercise caution and follow the advice of local authorities. To check areas affected and transport infrastructure impacted please see the regular reports published by the Thai 24/7 Emergency Operations Centre.. Check with your tour operator, local media, the 24/7 Emergency Operations Centre or the Thai Meteorological Department for up-to-date information and warnings before you travel.

The full Travel Advice for Thailand is available at: http://ukinthailand.fco.gov.uk/en/help-for-british-nationals/travel-advice We will continue to monitor the situation and will update the Travel Advice regularly. For this reason I suggest you check it frequently. You can also follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

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Thailand to Request Help from U.S. in Flooding

Thai authorities are set to ask the United States for assistance in the widespread flooding. A request is reported to be made for U.S. helicopters to help in searching for stranded victims.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-13

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Thaksin Suggests Bartering Farm Produce for Water Management Expertise

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Eastern Bangkok should brace for flood: Yingluck

The Nation

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Thursday warned about pending flood in eastern areas of the capital, saying the inundation might be about 20 to 30 centimeters as run-off would be drained into the sea via Bang Pakong River.

"Every effort will be made to slow down the water flow in order to minimise the damage," she said.

As Pathum Thani authorities failed to rein in runn-off, last night Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha ordered an emergency response to fortify the dykes in order to slow the torrent, she said.

She said Bangkok authorities were well prepared to deal with the inundation and drainage.

In addition to Chao Phraya River, run-off would be drained via Bang Pakong River in the East and Tha Cheen River in the West, she said. All canals and waterways would be used to maximum capacity for drainage.

She was speaking before boarding an Army helicopter to inspect the water situation at Chao Phraya Dam and Phonthep sluice gate in Chai Nat.

-- The Nation 2011-10-13

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Phuket prisoners plunge into fight against floods

HACK ATTACK: Phuket Prison inmates brave the rain to clear local

waterways in Pa Khlok. Photo: Warisa Temram

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MRT to close some of its gates to install water barrier

October 13, closed at 2:20pm

Suttisan, Exit 2

Ratchadapisek, Exit 1

Lat Phrao, Exit 1

Chatuchak, Exit 1 and 3 (stair side)

Kamphaeng Phet, Exit 3

October 14, closed at 2:30pm

Sukhumvit, Exit 1

Sam Yan, Exit 2

Si Lom, Exit 1

Lumphini, Exit 3

Petchaburi, Exit 2

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Love, unity and compassion will help Thais overcome floods: Prem

The Nation

Privy Council president General Prem Tinsulanonda on Thursday called on Thai citizens to join hands in fighting the floods with love, unity and compassion.

"Thais share the hardships of flood victims in the North and the Central Region and will overcome the problem," he said.

Prem made a reference to the floods in his speech to the youths from the sounthernmost provinces.

As the young people from the strife-torn region was making a study tour of the capital, they would experience first-hand about flood-related hardships, he said, reminding Thais to rally together.

-- The Nation 2011-10-13

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Hitech Industrial Estate in Bangwa is holding strong against the flood, repairs being made to damaged embankment. /TAN_Network

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Bhumibol Dam closes emergency spillway

The Nation

As of Thursday's afternoon, Bhumibol Dam has closed its emergency spillway, ending the release of more than 100 million cubic meters per day and expecting to ease off the inundation of the downstream areas.

The spillway was opened last week in order to keep water retention at 99 per cent of capacity. The emergency release of water exacerbated the inundation of Chao Phraya basin in the Central Region.

Dam director Boon-in Chuenchavalit said the released water would return to normalcy at 60 million cubic meters per day to generate electricity.

Wednesday water pouring into the dam reservoir reduced to about 82 million cubic meters, allowing the shut-down of the spillway.

Water retention remains close to 99 per cent of capacity.

The waters from the dam and the Yom River would combine to make the Ping River's water flow at 1,100 cubic meters per second, which is within acceptable limit. The lowering rate of water flow would start to dissipate the floods in Nakhon Sawan in the next few days.

-- The Nation 2011-10-13

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SCANDAL

MCOT President terminated

The Nation

MCOT Plc's board of directors today terminated the employment contract of Tanawat Wansom, the president, with immediate effect.

The termination followed an investigation into his performance in the past year, after MCOT labour union launched complaints in several issues.

The union complained that reshuffles under the new organisational structure proposed by Tanawat would create rifts. It also pressed for Tanawat’s explanation on CSR spending worth over Bt100 million a year.

-- The Nation 2011-10-13

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Phuket firestarter bamboozles police

Firefighters brought the blaze under control within 15 minutes.

Photo: Wichai Witthaya

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A man stabbed a Dutch tourist in front of his girlfriend in Krabi. The victim is now in safe conditions. It's unclear why he was attacked. /via@Urisara_NT

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Pathum Thani Governor continues to call on the government to declare a state of emergency /via@RichardBarrow /via@wayne_hay

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New plan to expedite water drainage put into action

The Nation

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Phuket boy, 9, tops EU contest

Young Suthipat, 9, flanked by VIPs including Phuket Governor Tri,

MP Anchalee and Phuket City Mayor Somjai.

EU Ambassador David Limpan was impressed by Suthipat's drawing.

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Khon Kaen flooded, 1,000 families evacuated

The Nation

Khon Kaen has declared its 26 districts as disaster areas due to floods, provincial governor Sombat Triwatnusorn said on Thursday.

"The inundation has worsened because the water retention at Ubonrat Dam is at 120 per cent of capacity, prompting the spillway to open," he said.

Sombat said excess water was released at 53 million cubic meters per day. At some areas within the Khon Kaen town, the water level rose to three meters, triggering the emergency evacuation of more than 1,000 families, he said.

Eight of 26 districts faced inundation at critical level.

The provincial authorities called for donations to help about 900,000 flood victims. Donors can made deposits into the Khon Kaen Flood Relief Fund via Krung Thai Bank account No 424-0-01492-1 and Government Saving Bank account No 07-5011-20-044667-9

-- The Nation 2011-10-13

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Kittiratt gets emotional as floods enters Hi-Tech Industrial Estate

The Nation

Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong on Thursday made an inspection trip to Hi-Tech Industrial Estate in Ayutthaya's Bang Pa-In district, and witnessed floodwaters pouring in as a section of dyke collapsed.

An emotional Kittiratt was in tears as he expressed his regrets to Japanese investors who were present to watch workers and soldiers scrambling to repair the dyke. According to Channel 3, they were executives of Aapico Hitech Plc, a major auto-parts maker.

Aapico Hitech told the Stock Exchange of Thailand today that it has suspended the operations, as the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand ordered evacuation. The power is now shut down.

The water started to rush in to the industrial park before noon and it remains unclear whether the dyke could be fixed in time to prevent the inundation of the 2,000-rai area.

The industrial park is home to a number of plants with a combined investment of more than Bt65 billion and a work force that's more than 50,000 strong.

The government will on Monday convene a meeting to assess the damage from floods and map out the tax and financial package for flood-hit businesses.

-- The Nation 2011-10-13

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SET index closed at 936.82 down 15.95; Bt/USD30.68; GBP48.19; AUD31.08; EUR42.17; CAD29.96; HKD3.93; SGD23.88; JPY39.57

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UNESCO mission to flooded Thai heritage site

BANGKOK, October 13, 2011 (AFP) - The UN cultural organisation UNESCO said Thursday it would launch a mission to the ancient Thai city of Ayutthaya to assess the damage to the World Heritage site from the worst floods in decades.

It said the visit to the country's former capital would be arranged shortly by the Thai government, which is also preparing to apply for emergency assistance from the World Heritage Fund.

World Heritage property in Ayutthaya, a popular tourist destination about 80 kilometres (50 miles) upriver of Bangkok, has been flooded for more than a week, UNESCO said.

Culture minister Sukumol Kunplome said it was unclear how much damage there was because the city was still under water.

"Once the water subsides, we can estimate our loss," he told AFP.

Unusually heavy monsoon rains have killed at least 283 people, destroyed crops, inundated hundreds of factories and damaged the homes or livelihoods of millions of people in Thailand, according to the government.

Currently 26 out of 77 provinces are affected, while Bangkok is bracing for a large amount of run-off water to reach the city along with seasonal high tides that will make it harder for the flood waters to flow out to sea.

The authorities are building extra flood prevention walls and preparing to dredge and drain canals in the capital.

"We will dig deep and expand canals so the water can flow easily," said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra. "I will assign military to take responsibility for it."

She said that while flood protection walls had been erected for inner Bangkok, more defences were needed along the Chao Phraya River north of the city.

"People living outside the flood defences will have to face water but not at a high level," Yingluck said.

Japanese automakers such as Toyota have suspended production in the kingdom due to flood damage to facilities or disruptions to parts supplies.

Flooding has also hit other countries in Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, where more than 200 people have died. In Vietnam, the toll has risen to 43 and officials say most of the dead are children

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-10-13

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Bus passenger encouraged to check new bus schedule regularly

BANGKOK, 13 October 2011 (NNT)-The Transport Company is urging travelers to allow themselves some times to plan their trip in advance if they are going to the North or Northeast as many roads are still submerged.

The Public Relations Section of the DRG Center for Flood Victims said bus passengers should carefully plan ahead of their trips since many roads have been inundated with high levels of floods particularly in Wang Noi district of Ayutthaya province.

The Transport Company President Mr. Wutthichart Kalayanamit said his company was forced to use other routes to avoid flooded roads. To get to northern provinces, the company buses will travel through Bang Bua Thong district of Nonthaburi before going through Suphan Buri, Ang Thong and Phitsanulok provinces.

Meanwhile, buses that are big enough to go through the water will continue to go to the Northeast via Wang Noi in Ayutthaya province. The President said the bus schedule would be changed and urged passengers to contact 1490 for updates 24 hours a day.

-- NNT 2011-10-13

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Excess water estimated at 1.8 billion cubic meters

The National Flood Relief Centre has estimated run-off at 1.8 billion cubic meters, requiring more than 20 days to drain into the sea and predicting the floods in 14 provinces to persist until the middle of next month.

Justice Minister Pracha Promnok said run-off at Nakhon Sawan alone was at 8 billion cubic meters. The capacity for Chao Phraya River to drain run-off into the sea is at 550 million cubic meters per day.

Transport Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat said the drainage would take at least 20 days to complete. The Central Region would be inundated and it will take about a month before the recovery efforts could start, he said.

For Bangkok, Sunday will be most critical as major run-off would pass before reaching the sea at Samut Prakan.

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Attempt to rescue Hi-Tech Industrial Estate under way

BANGKOK, Oct 13 -- The government is pulling out all the stops to rescue the Bang Wa (Hi-Tech) Industrial Estate in flood-stricken Ayutthaya province Thursday after a section of the makeshift flood prevention dyke was breached and floodwater poured into the facility, according to Minister of Industry Wannarat Channukul.

Mr Wannarat said that floodwaters now cover more than half the 4,858 rai (1,943 acre) estate to a depth of about 50cm deep. He said Deputy Prime Minister/Commerce Minister Kittirat Na-Ranong decided to continue the effort to rescue the industrial estate by repairing the ruptured dyke.

Mr Kittirat inspected the work of authorities doing emergency repairs of the ruptured dyke which opened a path for the influx of water.

An unspecified number of workers are using heavy equipment and their own muscle to restore a five metre-section of the flood protection dyke on the south side of the industrial estate.

In an unusual public display of emotion, Mr Kittirat wept, hugged and consoled a Japanese investor of a company operating a factory in the estate after learning that the attempt to repair the dyke failed, and it is not clear how much of the facility can be saved from the flood.

The Hi-Tech Industrial Estate houses 143 factories, mainly dedicated to manufacturing auto parts, electronics and steel, with total investment of Bt65 billion and providing employment for more than 51,000 workers.

At least two industrial estates have been flooded -- Rojana and Saha Rattana Nakhon.

Meanwhile, the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (EGAT) on Thursday reduced the volume of water discharged from the Bhumibol Dam in Tak province to ease the difficulties of downstream residents after the water volume in the reservoir decreased.

EGAT Hydro Power Plant assistant director Kitti Tancharoen said that the state-owned energy company and the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) agreed to close the spillway of the Bhumibol Dam and reduce the volume of water release from the dam to 60 million cubic metres per day to ease the impact on residents who lived at the lower end of the reservoir.

The discharge was decreasing from the original amount of 100 million cubic metres per day as the dam was filled almost to its maximum capacity.

He said there was less rainfall and the water flowing into the dam was reduced and if the water inflow into the dam was gradually receded, the dam would eventually reduce the water discharge.

At the same time, Mr Kitti assured the public that the Bhumibol dam, named in honour of His Majesty the King, and other EGAT dams ,were strong enough to contain the incoming water, and said that their status had frequently been examined and closely monitored.

He asked the public not to panic over rumours that the dams could no longer retain water and possibly fracture. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-10-13

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Thailand can drain sufficient floodwater into the sea day by day.

BANGKOK, Oct 13 – The Thai government’s attempt to drain floodwaters into the sea can be achieved at the rate of 550 million cubic metres per day from out of the overall 16 billion cubic metres which is currently causes flooding in central provinces, National Relief Flood Center director Pol Gen Pracha Promnok.

He said the water volume causing the flooding is about 16 billion cubic metres--eight billion cubic metres in Nakhon Sawan, six billion cubic metres in Ayutthaya and Nonthaburi, and two billion cubic metres in areas surrounding the Chao Phraya River.

If there is no further rain, the water situation should be able to be handled, he said.

Air Chief Marshal Sukampon Suwannatat, Transport Minister, said that the whole water mass of 14 -16 billion cubic metres flooded 14 provinces and if it can be drained quickly, the flood situation is likely to ease in mid-November.

Meanwhile, Pol Gen Pracha thanked China for the help it said it is prepared to provide and may send helicopters to help Thai flood victims. The director said the centre wants ten boats to dredge canals, 200 flat-bottomed boats and five high-capacity pumps.

Meanwhile, construction of two embankments in the Salaya and Muang Ake areas to prevent floodwaters from overflowing into the capital has been completed, while another in Rangsit area is expected to be finished today. The prime minister ordered the construction of three flood barriers to defence the northern and western parts of Bangkok.

Pol Gen Pracha urged related agencies and MPs to visit flood-hit areas and assist flood victims at several temporary shelters. The minister added that providing initial aid, particularly food and shelters, has to continue for at least 30 days.

Gen Pracha ordered officers from the Royal Thai Police, the Royal Thai Army and the Royal Thai Navy to deploy personnel to patrol the inundated industrial estates and homes to prevent burglaries. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-10-13