Can Bangkok Make It?: Flood Crisis

[webfact]

Can Bangkok make it?

The Nation

Concerns increase as more water than expected might flow through the city

More than expected amount of water poised to pass through Bangkok has added to concerns about the capital’s chance of survival from flood disaster. As floodwater has already covered some Bangkok's areas, relevant authorities have just guaranteed that impacts on the capital will not be severe.

"I am 70 per cent confident that Bangkok will not be hard hit," Justice Minister Pracha Promnok said yesterday in his capacity as the director of Flood Relief Operation Command. He believed only the outer Bangkok would suffer from floods.

As of press time, some 16 billion cubic metres of water in upstream provinces look set to head down to the Gulf of Thailand. Of the amount, a large portion will likely pass through Bangkok.

It will take at least one month for the runoff to finally reach the shore.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra yesterday revealed that the Royal Irrigation Department told her the floodwater level in Bangkok would range between 20 and 30 centimetres.

"People in East Bangkok must brace for possible flooding," she said.

She was speaking as relevant authorities struggled hard to protect the capital from flooding.

Yingluck and Royal Thai Army (RTA) commanderinchief General Prayut Janocha took a helicopter ride to survey routes that brought water from Central provinces to the Gulf of Thailand.

She said many canals would be dredged and expanded so as to push the runoff water out faster. To date, about 550 million cubic metres from the Central region are being drained to the sea daily.

Prayut said soldiers would be responsible for digging shortcut canals in West Bangkok in response to His Majesty the King's advice. The shortcuts are intended to facilitate the water flow more efficiently.

"It will involve a combined stretch of 10 kilometres. The operation will take about five or six days to complete," he said.

Pracha disclosed that 1,000 boats were now using their propellers to push the water out to Bangkok faster.

Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra urged people not to get panicked. "Water volume is huge but the situation as of now is not critical," he said.

However, he expressed concerns for people living in Bangkok's eastern zone because their areas were beyond the protection of embankment line of key roads.

The level of these roads is high enough to serve as floodwall protecting people in the inner Bangkok.

"Problem will arise for sure when the Chao Phraya River swells to 2.30 metres (above median sea level)," Sukhumbhand said. He said the water level in the river really could rise that high between October 16 and October 18.

The Bangkok governor admitted that he was discussing on evacuation plans with the Bangkok City Clerk Charernrat Chutikarn.

In Bangkok's Min Buri district, many residents have lived with floodwater for about one month now.

"We can't prevent floods there. We can only offer some forms of assistance," Min Buri District Office assistant director Manida Panwattana said. Min Buri is located in East Bangkok.

Chawalit Chantararat, an engineer in waterresource engineer at the TEAM Consulting Engineering and Management Co Ltd, suggested that some stretches of roads in Bangkok's Min Buri and Nong Chok districts, Pathum Thani's Nong Suea district, and Chachoengsao's Bang Nam Priao district were dismantled to facilitate water into Dan Canal.

"With that new route for water flow, we will be able to push 150 million cubic metres more of water out into the sea," he said.

According to the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, floods have ravaged 26 provinces and upset the lives of over 2.25 million people. Floodrelated death tolls have now soared to 283. The disaster has also left two flood victims missing.

-- The Nation 2011-10-14

[wpcoe]

This doesn't bode well for Bangkok. Come mid- to late-next week another tropical depression appears to be on its way ... pretty much aiming directly at Bangkok:

Tropical Depression Banyan 5-day forecast

With any luck the projected path will change, but in any case it will probably land somewhere in Thailand, which is not good.

[webfact]

Thailand fights to keep Bangkok dry

by Janesara Fugal

BANGKOK, October 14, 2011 (AFP) - Thai authorities battled Thursday to keep the country's worst floods in decades from inundating Bangkok, urging the city's 12 million residents not to panic after a dyke burst in the northern suburbs.

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.

About 110,000 people around the country have sought refuge in shelters.

The National Flood Relief Centre warned water up to one metre (3.3 feet) deep was expected in Rangsit, Saimai, Lamlukka and Klongluang in Bangkok's northern suburbs, advising people living in one-storey buildings to evacuate.

But the authorities later reassured the public, saying they were close to repairing the broken dyke.

"There is really a lot of water but it is under our control," Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said on television. "It's not at a critical level. You can be worried but don't panic."

Inner Bangkok, including the main tourist districts, was not affected and conditions in most of the city remained normal.

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.

Central Bangkok is protected by flood walls and the authorities have piled sandbags along the Chao Phraya River to try to keep water out of nearby areas, whose residents are no strangers to seasonal floods.

"This year is the worst. It flooded around here every year but this year is the highest level," said Sukon Chadeth, a 36-year-old food seller living near the river.

The authorities are 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."

The floods have dealt a heavy blow to Thailand's economy. Japanese automakers such as Toyota have suspended production in the kingdom due to water damage to facilities or disruptions to parts supplies.

On Thursday, floodwater started pouring into Ayutthaya's Hi-Tech Industrial Estate -- home to about 140 plants which employ about 50,000 workers -- after a section of a dyke collapsed.

The ancient city of Ayutthaya, about 80 kilometres (50 miles) upriver of Bangkok, has been badly affected and the UN cultural organisation UNESCO said it would launch a mission to the World Heritage site to assess the impact.

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," she told AFP.

Flooding has also hit other countries in Southeast Asia, including Cambodia, where almost 250 people have died. In Vietnam, the death toll has risen to 43 and officials say most of the dead are children.

On the edges of Bangkok's Chao Phraya River, some residents were getting ready to leave their homes if necessary.

"Even though we have the barrier, we're not confident," said 34-year-old Boonluea Petchjun. "The water can come in any time so I already prepared by packing my important belongings and I am ready to evacuate any time."

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-10-14

[maidu]

The title, "Can Bangkok Make It" is a rhetorical question. The answer is supposed to be a resounding 'YES!"

And a 'yes' is appropriate - though what does 'make it' mean in this context? Does 'make it' mean: "the city will survive and not fall apart like Mogadishu? Even Bangladesh can 'make it' each year, after it invariably gets flooded. New Orleans 'made it' after Katrina - though it took billions of dollars to literally prop it up.

This year has not been a record setter in terms of rainfall. Some prime reasons Bangkok is suffering such flooding is the destruction of forests and fields in its watershed, and the city site is prone to flooding and getting worse - as it slowly sinks. Ten trillion baht can't keep it from sinking, and no amount of the proposed giant berms and massive pumps will keep it safe in the future. The city needs to be relocated to higher ground, period.

a year or two ago we had what was called 'The worst drought ever!" in Thailand. Can you see the pattern here? Too big a population, too much habitat destruction, bad planning - all combine to natural disasters twice per year: drought/flood/drought/flood/ .......back and forth. It doesn't help to fill million watercourses with water-guzzling rice crops. I can recommend several cash crops that are more nutritious, higher baht value, less labor-intensive, and better suited to Thailand's terrain. But what Thai farm expert wants to listen to a lone farang howling in the wind?

[justaphase]

We're on day 10 of the crisis here in Ayuttaya and the flood water is still flowing like a river all over the place. Everyone (all the locals) are saying it's the worst they've ever seen.

So Bangkok, if you've had some water before where you are, expect a lot more.

And if you're saying "It's never flooded here."

It just might...

[zakk9]

The endless focus on flooding of Bangkok is sickening. Bangkok has been flooded before, and the world didn't go under. Such a flooding has little impact compared to all the destroyed homes and industries further north. The flooded industrial estates in Ayutthaya may have long term economical consequences for the country that totally overshadows whatever happens in Bangkok, unless the city floats out into the ocean. Foreign investors will for sure think twice before building as much as a tool shed her in the future. It will be interesting to see how the local politicians responds to this issue.

[bkkjames]

Yea, honda's own risk assessment blokes must have a few things to answer for.

Do we need to elevate our plant? No, flooding is rare here.

Do we need a floodwall around our plant? No, flooding is rare here.

[Awohalitsiktoli]

The endless focus on flooding of Bangkok is sickening. Bangkok has been flooded before, and the world didn't go under. Such a flooding has little impact compared to all the destroyed homes and industries further north. The flooded industrial estates in Ayutthaya may have long term economical consequences for the country that totally overshadows whatever happens in Bangkok, unless the city floats out into the ocean. Foreign investors will for sure think twice before building as much as a tool shed her in the future. It will be interesting to see how the local politicians responds to this issue.

About foreign investors, I just read an article that talks about large Japanese corporations seriously considering moving their operations out of Thailand, especially if nothing is done to stop future floods in the industrial zones. We can anticipate a lot more of this as climate change increases in intensity along with unsustainable population growth and economic growth.

[webfact]

UPDATED 14 October: Maps of Flood Risk Areas in Bangkok http://t.co/Eu1qX961

via@RichardBarrow

[webfact]

IMPORTANT INFO:

Google Flood Crisis Map now available in English: http://bit.ly/qSPlf4

[w11guy]

Yea, honda's own risk assessment blokes must have a few things to answer for.

Do we need to elevate our plant? No, flooding is rare here.

Do we need a floodwall around our plant? No, flooding is rare here.

You obviously don't understand risk assessment. Everything is a risk, but it doesn't make sense to try to avoid every risk. Driving is risky, so are you saying that all cars should be banned? For the Honda plant they have to compare any risk to the cost of mitigating it. They are insured. Maybe the cost of mitigating the risk was greater than the cost of trying to prevent it. Do you expect the whole country to built on 10 metre stilts just in case it floods. ?

[phutoie2]

Yea, honda's own risk assessment blokes must have a few things to answer for.

Do we need to elevate our plant? No, flooding is rare here.

Do we need a floodwall around our plant? No, flooding is rare here.

You obviously don't understand risk assessment. Everything is a risk, but it doesn't make sense to try to avoid every risk. Driving is risky, so are you saying that all cars should be banned? For the Honda plant they have to compare any risk to the cost of mitigating it. They are insured. Maybe the cost of mitigating the risk was greater than the cost of trying to prevent it. Do you expect the whole country to built on 10 metre stilts just in case it floods. ?

Perhaps no one informed Honda that three of Thailand's biggest rivers converge at Ayuthaya.

Yep no risk here, carry on.

[blazes]

The title, "Can Bangkok Make It" is a rhetorical question. The answer is supposed to be a resounding 'YES!"

And a 'yes' is appropriate - though what does 'make it' mean in this context? Does 'make it' mean: "the city will survive and not fall apart like Mogadishu? Even Bangladesh can 'make it' each year, after it invariably gets flooded. New Orleans 'made it' after Katrina - though it took billions of dollars to literally prop it up.

This year has not been a record setter in terms of rainfall. Some prime reasons Bangkok is suffering such flooding is the destruction of forests and fields in its watershed, and the city site is prone to flooding and getting worse - as it slowly sinks. Ten trillion baht can't keep it from sinking, and no amount of the proposed giant berms and massive pumps will keep it safe in the future. The city needs to be relocated to higher ground, period.

a year or two ago we had what was called 'The worst drought ever!" in Thailand. Can you see the pattern here? Too big a population, too much habitat destruction, bad planning - all combine to natural disasters twice per year: drought/flood/drought/flood/ .......back and forth. It doesn't help to fill million watercourses with water-guzzling rice crops. I can recommend several cash crops that are more nutritious, higher baht value, less labor-intensive, and better suited to Thailand's terrain. But what Thai farm expert wants to listen to a lone farang howling in the wind?

Well, go on then, tell us which cash crops are better than rice.....

[normac44]

I wish the people of Bangkok and the rest of Thailand all the best and hope they get through this safely and that Bangkok will still be there next month when I arrive.

[Viper]

Bangkok will continue to flood every year, as it has done each and every year i have spent there. You have to ask yourself why does Bangkok flood? Simple really, there is nowhere for the water to go. Sea level is rising every year, the main canals are full of rubbish and over grown with weeds and vegetation, and the drains are far to small to handle the volume of water. Personally I think there is a solution with careful planning and allot of money, but nothing ever seems to be done. Meanwhile hundreds of lives are taken and thousands of homes are destroyed. I wish all thous who have been affected good luck!

[DGS1244]

It seems our friend 'w11guy' is getting a little mixed up with Hazards and Risks, yes there are always hazards which are unassessed loss potentials, risks are hazards that have been assessed against a probability/severity rating and a course of action decided to mitigate it. Insurance is just one way to do this, there are many other ways that may be done long before the insurance kicks in. The large multinational companies insured in the international market are well aware of this and have taken precautions accordingly. Unfortunately many Japanese companies are insured through their own home market using captive companies and have shown that they prefer to choose to ignore advice and spend money only to make profit not protection to the work force. Now they have to pay the penalty.

[wellred]

Question to all. How long does before the flooding usually clears up? I have read that Bangkok floods every year but assume not as bad as this?

[maidu]

The title, "Can Bangkok Make It" is a rhetorical question. The answer is supposed to be a resounding 'YES!"

And a 'yes' is appropriate - though what does 'make it' mean in this context? Does 'make it' mean: "the city will survive and not fall apart like Mogadishu? Even Bangladesh can 'make it' each year, after it invariably gets flooded. New Orleans 'made it' after Katrina - though it took billions of dollars to literally prop it up.

This year has not been a record setter in terms of rainfall. Some prime reasons Bangkok is suffering such flooding is the destruction of forests and fields in its watershed, and the city site is prone to flooding and getting worse - as it slowly sinks. Ten trillion baht can't keep it from sinking, and no amount of the proposed giant berms and massive pumps will keep it safe in the future. The city needs to be relocated to higher ground, period.

a year or two ago we had what was called 'The worst drought ever!" in Thailand. Can you see the pattern here? Too big a population, too much habitat destruction, bad planning - all combine to natural disasters twice per year: drought/flood/drought/flood/ .......back and forth. It doesn't help to fill million watercourses with water-guzzling rice crops. I can recommend several cash crops that are more nutritious, higher baht value, less labor-intensive, and better suited to Thailand's terrain. But what Thai farm expert wants to listen to a lone farang howling in the wind?

Well, go on then, tell us which cash crops are better than rice.....

berries, nuts, avos, brazil nuts, brazil noi, hemp, popcorn, aloe vera, agave,jatropha, grapes. That's not to say all those, and a slew of other crops should preclude rice, but Thai farmers should look at options for at least part of their farmlands. The current attitude, is the same as the pineapple vendors on the highway north of me: miles and miles of small salas - all selling the exact same product. Not one variation. Not one out of dozens of vendors selling any other type of fruit or product. Until you get to the miles of strawberry vendors - and again, all of them sell exactly the same items, no variations. What is it in the genetic code of Thais - where they can't think independently? ......unable to think outside the box?

[Bpuumike]

Sure Bangkok "can make it".

Flooding in Bangkok is essentially an inconvenience to the majority of people - getting to and from the airport, cancelling a weekend away, traffic jams & wasting commuting hours to and from work, shopping, etc.

Contrast that to the plight of the 'have-nots' further North who are losing lives, homes, possessions, crops and livehood, etc and be grateful.

Edited October 14, 2011 by mikegy

[MILT]

The title, "Can Bangkok Make It" is a rhetorical question. The answer is supposed to be a resounding 'YES!"

And a 'yes' is appropriate - though what does 'make it' mean in this context? Does 'make it' mean: "the city will survive and not fall apart like Mogadishu? Even Bangladesh can 'make it' each year, after it invariably gets flooded. New Orleans 'made it' after Katrina - though it took billions of dollars to literally prop it up.

This year has not been a record setter in terms of rainfall. Some prime reasons Bangkok is suffering such flooding is the destruction of forests and fields in its watershed, and the city site is prone to flooding and getting worse - as it slowly sinks. Ten trillion baht can't keep it from sinking, and no amount of the proposed giant berms and massive pumps will keep it safe in the future. The city needs to be relocated to higher ground, period.

a year or two ago we had what was called 'The worst drought ever!" in Thailand. Can you see the pattern here? Too big a population, too much habitat destruction, bad planning - all combine to natural disasters twice per year: drought/flood/drought/flood/ .......back and forth. It doesn't help to fill million watercourses with water-guzzling rice crops. I can recommend several cash crops that are more nutritious, higher baht value, less labor-intensive, and better suited to Thailand's terrain. But what Thai farm expert wants to listen to a lone farang howling in the wind?

Well, go on then, tell us which cash crops are better than rice.....

berries, nuts, avos, brazil nuts, brazil noi, hemp, popcorn, aloe vera, agave,jatropha, grapes. That's not to say all those, and a slew of other crops should preclude rice, but Thai farmers should look at options for at least part of their farmlands. The current attitude, is the same as the pineapple vendors on the highway north of me: miles and miles of small salas - all selling the exact same product. Not one variation. Not one out of dozens of vendors selling any other type of fruit or product. Until you get to the miles of strawberry vendors - and again, all of them sell exactly the same items, no variations. What is it in the genetic code of Thais - where they can't think independently? ......unable to think outside the box?

Rice is a cultural story. Has and always will be. Not all rice is grown in water. What it seems your suggesting is that Thai people replace rice that has been their staple forever with Nut's and berries? Can you eat hemp? Popcorn is more nutritious than rice? Aloe vera? I am not sure you have considered the story of the rice culture in Thailand. Rice paddy's provide all sorts of edibles besides rice. Crabs, Tadpoles, frogs, snakes and even snails which are harvested and consumed.

I say grow more rice because there seems to be plenty of water. No?

[melvinmelvin]

I find the map in the original post pretty good, (although I miss some fairly big canals on the western side of CP).

Are there similar maps (egually detailed re canals) covering the area further north?

Say beyond Ayudaya and up to Lop Buri and also Suphan Buri and a bit further west?

[shunima]

Sure Bangkok "can make it".

Flooding in Bangkok is essentially an inconvenience to the majority of people - getting to and from the airport, cancelling a weekend away, traffic jams & wasting commuting hours to and from work, shopping, etc.

Contrast that to the plight of the 'have-nots' further North who are losing lives, homes, possessions, crops and livehood, etc and be grateful.

Your post is proof that you truly do not understand the dimension of disaster a flooding of central Bangkok would cause. You can't handle emergency services for 7.5+ million people. Every sane government would sacrifice almost everything to avoid such situation. It's not ok but it's the cruel reality it is. And we even do not have a sane government in place...

[Bpuumike]

Sure Bangkok "can make it".

Flooding in Bangkok is essentially an inconvenience to the majority of people - getting to and from the airport, cancelling a weekend away, traffic jams & wasting commuting hours to and from work, shopping, etc.

Contrast that to the plight of the 'have-nots' further North who are losing lives, homes, possessions, crops and livehood, etc and be grateful.

Your post is proof that you truly do not understand the dimension of disaster a flooding of central Bangkok would cause. You can't handle emergency services for 7.5+ million people. Every sane government would sacrifice almost everything to avoid such situation. It's not ok but it's the cruel reality it is. And we even do not have a sane government in place...

I can understand your concerns. I was in Bangkok during the 1983 (and later years) floods and they weren't perhaps the widespread sort of 'total submersion' that some people might be imagining. True, certain areas were inaccessible by road (at least for most vehicles) but I don't recall any significant disruptions of emergency services.

[ginjag]

Sure Bangkok "can make it".

Flooding in Bangkok is essentially an inconvenience to the majority of people - getting to and from the airport, cancelling a weekend away, traffic jams & wasting commuting hours to and from work, shopping, etc.

Contrast that to the plight of the 'have-nots' further North who are losing lives, homes, possessions, crops and livehood, etc and be grateful.

Your post is proof that you truly do not understand the dimension of disaster a flooding of central Bangkok would cause. You can't handle emergency services for 7.5+ million people. Every sane government would sacrifice almost everything to avoid such situation. It's not ok but it's the cruel reality it is. And we even do not have a sane government in place...

So it's a disaster if 7.5 million in Bkk are flooded, Sorry but I would say sod it, open up and let the bloody water through and out to sea, if its affected 30% of the country..how many people--ESTIMATE anyone ???........And you can't handle emergency services if they affect 20 million scattered all over the country, at least in Bkk inner city would be easier to access than 1000 km x 600 approx (north Thai),,sorry Bkk no offense-just the attention all seems to be BKK.

[mdechgan]

In theory Bangkok should have succumbed to mother nature and be under water by now.

Geographically it is a tidal area/swamp and barely above sea level combined with a river delta and gulf tides.

I think Mumbai has a greater elevation than Bkk.

There is no bedrock under the city just clay which is sinking, that is why most house that are not build on piles are lower than those that are.

Didn't someone predict Bangkok would be under water within 20 years if a big dyke or breakwater wasn't built?

Edited October 14, 2011 by mdechgan

[shunima]

Sure Bangkok "can make it".

Flooding in Bangkok is essentially an inconvenience to the majority of people - getting to and from the airport, cancelling a weekend away, traffic jams & wasting commuting hours to and from work, shopping, etc.

Contrast that to the plight of the 'have-nots' further North who are losing lives, homes, possessions, crops and livehood, etc and be grateful.

Your post is proof that you truly do not understand the dimension of disaster a flooding of central Bangkok would cause. You can't handle emergency services for 7.5+ million people. Every sane government would sacrifice almost everything to avoid such situation. It's not ok but it's the cruel reality it is. And we even do not have a sane government in place...

So it's a disaster if 7.5 million in Bkk are flooded, Sorry but I would say sod it, open up and let the bloody water through and out to sea, if its affected 30% of the country..how many people--ESTIMATE anyone ???........And you can't handle emergency services if they affect 20 million scattered all over the country, at least in Bkk inner city would be easier to access than 1000 km x 600 approx (north Thai),,sorry Bkk no offense-just the attention all seems to be BKK.

Official figures from yesterday (http://disaster.go.th/dpm/flood/news/news_eng/EOCReport13OCT-eng%5B1%5D.pdf)= 2.25 Mio people affected. That's less than 33% of inner BKK, right? Got it now why they are shit scared that BKK drowns? Any idea how to supply water / food / medical care to 7.5 million? Go ahead and enlighten us and the people in charge.

Edited October 14, 2011 by shunima

[BigBikeBKK]

It was a beautiful sunny afternoon so I took a walk from my place in Wang Thong Lang to have a look at the San Saep canal today and snapped this pic from the bridge at Ramkamhaeng 43:

The water level is certainly higher than usual and I was surprised to see that there's quite a strong current in the canal. (Usually it's stagnant).

This is the nearest significant body of water in my neighborhood so I'll be keeping an eye on it. I've noted that the authorities have set up some big pumps at various canal crossings, so I guess even if the canal overflows they will attempt to pump the water back into the canal.

Should be an interesting weekend!

Good luck everyone!

[PaultheSeeker]

Sure Bangkok "can make it".

Flooding in Bangkok is essentially an inconvenience to the majority of people - getting to and from the airport, cancelling a weekend away, traffic jams & wasting commuting hours to and from work, shopping, etc.

Contrast that to the plight of the 'have-nots' further North who are losing lives, homes, possessions, crops and livehood, etc and be grateful.

Your post is proof that you truly do not understand the dimension of disaster a flooding of central Bangkok would cause. You can't handle emergency services for 7.5+ million people. Every sane government would sacrifice almost everything to avoid such situation. It's not ok but it's the cruel reality it is. And we even do not have a sane government in place...

So it's a disaster if 7.5 million in Bkk are flooded, Sorry but I would say sod it, open up and let the bloody water through and out to sea, if its affected 30% of the country..how many people--ESTIMATE anyone ???........And you can't handle emergency services if they affect 20 million scattered all over the country, at least in Bkk inner city would be easier to access than 1000 km x 600 approx (north Thai),,sorry Bkk no offense-just the attention all seems to be BKK.

Official figures from yesterday (http://disaster.go.t...-eng%5B1%5D.pdf)= 2.25 Mio people affected. That's less than 33% of inner BKK, right? Got it now why they are shit scared that BKK drowns? Any idea how to supply water / food / medical care to 7.5 million? Go ahead and enlighten us and the people in charge.

ginjag didn't read the opening article very well. It states 2.25 million people being affected so far.

Yes, saving Bangkok from massive flooding (not localized or flash flooding) is a big deal. Don't forget it is the country's capital as well as its hub for commerce, communications, shipping, travel, etc. The flood-wall protected area also includes the densely-populated and hugely industrial part of Samut Prakan. There are also large slum areas that are mostly single-story and built low. These people will need help the most (in Bangkok).

[svenivan]

berries, nuts, avos, brazil nuts, brazil noi, hemp, popcorn, aloe vera, agave,jatropha, grapes. That's not to say all those, and a slew of other crops should preclude rice, but Thai farmers should look at options for at least part of their farmlands. The current attitude, is the same as the pineapple vendors on the highway north of me: miles and miles of small salas - all selling the exact same product. Not one variation. Not one out of dozens of vendors selling any other type of fruit or product. Until you get to the miles of strawberry vendors - and again, all of them sell exactly the same items, no variations. What is it in the genetic code of Thais - where they can't think independently? ......unable to think outside the box?

Hmm, I just wonder how many of these crops that can survive to be under water for 6-10 weeks? Or do you think that there will be no more flooding if the Thais are changing from rice to another crop?

[kdc1899]

have no fear " 1,000 boats were now using their propellers to push the water out to Bangkok faster. "