Thailand Live Thursday 13 Oct 2011

[Lite Beer]

National Housing Authority to provide shelter to flood victims according to the Ministry of Social Development and Human Security's policy/ Via@Radio_Thailand

The National Housing Authority will prepare temporary shelter for flood victims free of charge. 6PM News Flash on FM88/Via@Radio_Thailand

[Lite Beer]

Pathum Thani residents ordered to move to high ground

The Nation Flood Relief Center on Thursday recommended people to evacuate to higher ground after a water gate in Pathum Thani broke down.

It said the collapsing resulted in massive water to flood some districts of Pathum Thani to evacuate as the flood level is expected to be about one meter deep.

-- The Nation 2011-10-13

[george]

Evacuation:

Collapse of Banprao floodgate in Samkok, Pathum Thani may bring 1m floodwater to Rangsit, Saimai,Klongluang, Lamlukka; evacuation urged /TAN

Flood Operation Center asks Pathum Thani residents to evacuate as flood levee has collapsed (TAN) #ThaiFloodEng

Sports Authority opens up Rajamangala Stadium at Huamak for 10,000 flood evacuees #ThaiFloodEng /TANN

[george]

Chronology for North Bkk goes like this: Plodprasop said "Move!!", then Pracha said "Hold it", then ICT said rumours-mongers can go to jail /The Nation

@tulsathit Confused public is all right. Confused govt and we're doomed.// confused people elects confused governments

Govt should use Thai PBS weather woman who stands in front of her great digital maps & explains in detail where water is & where it could go /via @terryfrd

[Lite Beer]

PM orders prompt diversion of water to Tha Chin River

BANGKOK, 13 October 2011 (NNT) – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has instructed authorities to hastily dredge canals in western Bangkok in order to discharge floodwater into the sea via the Tha Chin River and to prevent the capital from being impacted.

After boarding a helicopter to observe areas within the western part of Bangkok, which was being used as another channel to siphon the floodwater out of the capital, Prime Minister Yingluck confirmed that Bangkok, particularly the inner area, would be safe from floods while admitting that other areas outside the embankment could be slightly affected. She said additional embankments had been constructed on both sides of the Chao Phraya River as well as along the borders with Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi provinces.

As for the operation to divert the excess water to the Gulf of Thailand via the Tha Chin River, which is located to the west of Bangkok, the Prime Minister has assigned the Royal Thai Army, the Ministry of Transport and the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation to dredge canals in the area at haste. The task is required to be finished within five days in a bid to allow the water to be released ahead of the upcoming high tide.

Ms Yingluck lastly promised that local residents would be notified in advance if their area was to experience a rise in flood level as a result of a discharge of additional water into the river

-- NNT 2011-10-13

[george]

Heavy rain in North, Northeast

A monsoon trough is passing through the lower North, Central Plains and the Northeast towards low pressure areas along the Vietnam shoreline, causing widespread rain in the North, Northeast and the East, the weather bureau reported.

Forecast for the Central Plains: Widespread rain covering 60% mostly in Lop Buri, Saraburi, and Ayutthaya.

Forecast for Bangkok: Widespread rain covering 70% of the area.

-- BKK Post 2011-10-13

[george]

FOC revised evac order, repair's being done to broken floodgate. Residents in mentioned urged to be cautious. #ThaiFloodENG /TANN

[Lite Beer]

Flood warning for part of Bangkok outskirts

BREAKING NEWS:

Evacuation, Flood Warning For Part Of Bangkok Outskirts

Full story:

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

[Lite Beer]

Met Dept forecasts more rains in Northeast, Central Plains

BANGKOK, 13 October 2011 (NNT) – The Meteorological Department has reported that the northeastern and central regions could experience heavy rains over the next seven days, whereas the storm system in the South China Sea has shown signs of weakening.

According to the Weather Forecast Bureau, Thai Meteorological Department, a monsoon trough is sweeping through the northeastern and central parts of Thailand, possibly causing continuous rainfall in the areas during the next seven days. However, the occurrence is considered normal during the rainy season.

At the same time, the temperature is expected to drop by 2-4 degrees Celsius as a consequence of a high-pressure system moving down from China to Thailand’s northern and northeastern regions.

Meanwhile, a tropical storm currently dominating the northwestern part of the South China Sea has a tendency to weaken into a depression in the near future. The system will likely bring heavy rains to Thailand during 17-18 October, but only three northeastern provinces, namely Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen and Ubon Ratchathani, will be affected.

-- NNT 2011-10-12

[george]

CH3 video w. Sorayuth at High-Tech estate. Shows breach in back, less-protected section & Dep PM's tears.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FJ7s3YVn6c0

[george]

Flood-related death tolls have reached 283. Floods have ravaged 26 provinces/ upset the lives of over 2.25 million.

Nakhon Sawan needs 1,000 2-person camping tents, big water containers.

/The Nation

[george]

Big C operates as usual despite floods

Big C Supercentre Plc is coordinating with all suppliers and the relevant authorities to ensure business continuity and undisrupted goods supplies to its stores, as floods are hitting its four distribution centres in Ayutthaya and Nonthaburi.

Managed by DHL Supply Chain (Thailand), the supply chain is disrupted and a number of suppliers are being asked to deliver products directly to applicable branches, Big C said in a statement to the Stock Exchange of Thailand.

As of today, all three distribution centres in Ayutthaya were closed and all items and equipment was moved to the second floor. The company is also in the process to move the distribution centres to 4 contingency sites and all suppliers are notified of the new uploading sites.

"The company considers that the contingency plans are working well. All stores of the company still remain operated except one - Mini Big C in Luang Phang 5 - which was closed due to flooding and loss of power supply," Big C said.

Big C has taken out insurance covering flood/water damage to the property including business interruption.

-- The Nation 2011-10-13

[george]

BMA: Inner Bangkok "100% safe"

BANGKOK: -- BMA flood control centre official assures the public that inner Bangkok is 100% safe as the run-off water from Rangsit, Pathum Thani has yet to raise the water level in Khlong Prem Prachakorn which runs through the inner city.

BMA has already finished erecting dykes at Muang Ek, Rangsit to stop the rising flood water if it breaches all the dykes and gates in Pathum Thani.

About the inner Bangkok, the walls are strong and only a few hundred metres which have been encroached by squatters and the BMA could not build permanent walls, the area has been walled off by sand dykes.

If inner Bankok is to experience flood, it will come from the heavy rain as was the case in Lat Phra and Vibhavadhi Rangsit highway. The reason was that all the canals in Bangkok were used to divert water from Chao Phraya river so as to speed up the waterflow into the sea, helping to relieve the suffering of people in the Central Plain provinces. For this reason if there were heavy rains, the water in the BMA canals could not drain off quickly as they were not as low as they should be due to the water gates allowing Chao Phraya river to flow in to be drained off into the sea.

The only flooded areas are Eastern Bangkok at Nongchak, Lat Krabang and Min Buri as the water is being diverted from various canals into this area to be drained off into the sea, making for rising water.

-- Bangkok Post 2011-10-13

[george]

The more embarrassing thing about the "evacuate now" for some residents, then "oh no, you don't need to evacuate" is that Plodprasob had no idea at start of presser what he was going to say & he suddenly comes up with an idea that ppl should go to Don Muang. 3. you can see video here: http://www.komchadluek.net/detail/20111013/111734/ศปภ.แถลงแก้ยังไม่สั่งอพยพ.html

Doesn't instill confidence that he knows what he is doing

/via @BangkokPundit

[george]

@EdwinWiek: Sai Noi in Nonthaburi province over a meter flooded. Pathumthani will probably soon follow #ThaiFloodEng

[george]

Bangkok can cope 'if no heavy rain'

Read more:

[george]

Met Dept forecasts more rains in Northeast, Central Plains

BANGKOK, 13 October 2011 (NNT) – The Meteorological Department has reported that the northeastern and central regions could experience heavy rains over the next seven days, whereas the storm system in the South China Sea has shown signs of weakening.

According to the Weather Forecast Bureau, Thai Meteorological Department, a monsoon trough is sweeping through the northeastern and central parts of Thailand, possibly causing continuous rainfall in the areas during the next seven days. However, the occurrence is considered normal during the rainy season.

At the same time, the temperature is expected to drop by 2-4 degrees Celsius as a consequence of a high-pressure system moving down from China to Thailand’s northern and northeastern regions.

Meanwhile, a tropical storm currently dominating the northwestern part of the South China Sea has a tendency to weaken into a depression in the near future. The system will likely bring heavy rains to Thailand during 17-18 October, but only three northeastern provinces, namely Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen and Ubon Ratchathani, will be affected.

-- NNT 2011-10-13

[george]

US EMBASSY, BANGKOK:

BANGKOK FLOODING EMERGENCY MESSAGE:

Basic Emergency Preparedness Recommendations:

Read more:

[george]

Hundreds of elephant in Ayutthaya must be moved to the higher ground because of hard flood [Photo : Reuters] http://t.co/3E39WZBT

[george]

All parking places 'full'

According to TV report, all free parking spaces to escape floods are fully taken up.

Department stores, Don Mueng airport, Suvarnabhumi airport all report that free parking spaces for car owners who want to escape floods are now full.

Hundreds of car owners decide to park their cars on Don Mueng Tollway even though they are afraid of security. They say it is better than let the car damaged in the water.

The Expressway Authority has decided to allow people to park their cars underneath the expressways.

-- Bangkok Post 2011-10-13

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