Thailand Live Saturday 15 Oct 2011

[webfact]

11:20am Workers at Bangkok Bank HQ on Silom Road building a 2 meter high barrier: http://bit.ly/ri0Snt

/via@RichardBarrow

[webfact]

Villager shot dead in Narathiwat violence

NARATHIWAT, Oct 15 - One villager was killed on Saturday in the latest attack on civilian by suspected insurgents in the restive south province of Narathiwat.

The victim was identified as Kupaso Tuanmong, 48, a wife of an army informant. She was found dead in a house in Rangae district this morning.

Initial investigation found that the victim was riding her motorcycle to a rubber plantation but was attacked by two suspected insurgents.

As she was shot on the first attack, she tried to escape the scene and asked for help at a house near the crime scene.

The assailant however followed and shot her again until she died.

Local authorities believed the shooting was the work of an insurgent group as the victim's husband and son were army informants. Almost her entire family, including son-in-law and daughter-in-law, have been killed by insurgents. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-10-15

[webfact]

AFP: Nervous Bangkok on alert for floods

Follow this link:

[webfact]

PM assures public that government will devote full effort to tackling flood problem

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Finance Ministry to set up 'Smile with Hope and Career Recovery for Flood Victims' project

BANGKOK, 15 October 2011 (NNT) – The Ministry of Finance has established a 'Smile with Hope and Career Recovery for Flood Victims' project and is ready to provide shelters for people from inundated areas, according to the Flood Relief Operations Center.

Mr Wirun Techapaiboon, Deputy Minister of Finance, made a visit to the Flood Relief Operations Center and announced that the Ministry of Finance has set up the 'Smile with hope and Career Recovery for Flood Victims' project. Under the project, the Islamic Bank will offer financial credits to flood-affected people for use in the construction or restoration of their houses, long-term investment credits, as well as revolving funds for their businesses and other multipurpose credits.

The project will be launched from 18 October 2011, and its expiration date has not been fixed. Flood victims who are interested are invited to contact any branch of the Islamic Bank. The deputy minister also encouraged flood victims as well as other Thais to fight and go through this hardship together. Meanwhile, the deputy minister reiterated his ministry’s readiness to provide shelters to cater for flood-affected residents.

On the visit, the deputy minister also represented the prime minister in receiving a cash donation of 150,000 baht from the Municipality of Phayakkhapoom Phisai District and another sum of 100,000 baht from Don Mueang Civil Engineering Department Saving Cooperatives Limited.

-- NNT 2011-10-15

[webfact]

(12.35pm) A man aged around 40 died after falling from BTS Pleonchit station. /via@jin_nation /via@veen_NT

[webfact]

USEmbassyBKK: US Marines C-130 aircraft on its way to Thailand from Japan w/ 1,000s of sandbags & 10 Marines for flood relief assessment

[webfact]

10 US marines will spend nxt few days surveying flood damage as Washington maps out assistance scheme for Thailand. /via@tulsathit

[webfact]

BMTA provides free bus service to Bangkok for flood victims in Ayutthaya

AYUTTHAYA, 15 October 2011 (NNT) - Flood victims in Ayutthaya can take free buses provided by the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) if they need to evacuate to Bangkok.

Ayutthaya Governor Withaya Pewpong said that a large amount of water has inundated both inbound and outbound routes of the Asian Highway near the entrance of Ayutthaya province where the Hi-Tech Industrial Estate is located, making small passenger cars unable to pass through. Thus, the Ayutthaya provincial administration has cooperated with the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority (BMTA) to provide 5 large buses to transport the residents without charges. The buses operate from 6 am - 6 pm and leave the station every 30 minutes.

Those who want to use the service can board the bus opposite the Ayutthaya City Hall and get off at the Future Park Rangsit terminal. Meanwhile, passenger van service is still available and the Ayutthaya Provincial Land Transport Office has assured that rates of the public vans are under control.

-- NNT 2011-10-15

[webfact]

Irrigation Department ready to propose long-term flood solution

BANGKOK, 15 October 2011 (NNT) – The Royal Irrigation Department is planning to speed up its long term flood solution project following months of severe flooding.

According to Director of the Royal Irrigation Department's Water Management Division Somkiat Prajumwong, the Department has submitted a plan to develop large canals to strengthen the water drainage capacity to the government for consideration.

Under the plan, four more canals will be dredged in Nakhon Pathom and Samut Sakhon. The canals, which will serve as shortcuts to the sea are expected to speed up the water drainage.

On the western side of the Chao Phraya River, the Irrigation Department has also planned to build a floodway which will store excessive water for agricultural purposes and drain the water above the Chao Phraya Dam onto the Gulf of Thailand.

On the eastern side of the River, the bottom of Chainat-Pasak canal will be expanded. A canal connecting to the Pa Sak River will be dug to enable water to flow into the Gulf of Thailand and the Bang Pakong River better and to improve the drainage capacity of existing canals.

The study on the construction plan will be finalized in three to four months. The project requires a budget of 10 billion THB. If approved, it could start early next year and could be completed in three years.

-- NNT 2011-10-15

[webfact]

US Embassy spokesman talking to Thai media re arrival of US Marines Humanitarian Assistance Survey Team http://t.co/N15oLkit

/via@USEmbassyBKK

[webfact]

Nakhon Ratchasima raises over 6 million THB in flood relief donation

NAKHON RATCHASIMA, 15 October 2011 (NNT) - Yesterday Prime Minister's Office Minister Krissana Seehalak accepted six million THB in cash donation for flood victims raised by people in this northeastern province.

The money was presented at a charity concert organized by the people of Nakhon Ratchasima in front of the Provincial Administration Hall. The concert, attended by Nakhon Ratchasima Governor Rapee Phongbupakit, busineessmen and locals, was aimed at raising donations in cash and kind for flood victims in various regions.

Upon receiving the donations, Prime Minister's Office Minister Krissana Seehalak thanked people of Nakhon Ratchasma for donating money and stuffs which she would pass forward to the flood-ravaged people in response to all donors' wills.

-- NNT 2011-10-15

[webfact]

Drinking water distribution centre for victims of the flooding disaster. Info http://on.fb.me/nrwO8k (source: @ThaiFlood)

[webfact]

BKK Gov will hold meeting every 6 hr a day fr today-Mon until water level back to normal. /via@bangkokgovernor /via@tukky_nt

[webfact]

Nakhon Sawan shelter is being threatened with flu, food poisoning and Hong Kong foot - Channel 7 /via@tulsathit

[webfact]

US Ambassador @KristieKenney: At Don Muang airport waiting for the C130 w US Marine team and sand bags

[webfact]

all 109 venues for flood-related parking is full, Bangkok Metropolitan Police /via@ASEAN_NEWSROOM:

[webfact]

Construction Worker Shot Dead In Banglamung

Follow this link:

[webfact]

Bang Pa-in Industrial Estate flood 4.5m high, attempts to fix broken dyke failed, authorities rushing to rescue to cut damages, order evacuation /MCOT

[webfact]

USEmbassyBKK: AMB @KristieKenney welcomes US Marines bringing sandbags and supplies to Thailand. http://bit.ly/nGgkob

[webfact]

Attempt to rescue Bang Pa-in Industrial Estate continues

AYUTTHAYA, Oct 15 -- Authorities were racing against time to rescue Bang Pa-in Industrial Estate in flood-stricken Ayutthaya province after a temporary dyke ruptured and water penetrated into the estate.

The flood prevention dyke in front of Bang Pa-in Industrial Estate had broken over a length of five metres while in the back it was damaged by 12.5 metre long. The floodwater reached 4.5 metre.

Bang Pa-in district chief Natee Bosuwan said that after the water influx into the estate, authorities ordered all people inside the estate to evacuate as quick as possible while the unit responsible for fixing the dyke would remain at work on rescuing the estate.

Estate manager Worawut Anurakwongsri said the damage occurred at two points of the dyke, opening the way for the inflow of floodwater outside the dyke, where the water level is lower than the flood prevention wall by 90 cm.

He said the estate staff has been working since early morning to fix the broken dyke and still believed that they could handle the situation.

The water pressure would reduce after the floodwater flowed into the estate and should make it easier to mend the dyke.

The workers were piling steel sheeting to make a wall to hold back floodwater.

Bang Pa-in Industrial Estate has 1,386 rais (554.4 acres) of land area, housing 90 factories and employed 60,000 workers with total investment of around Bt 60 billion, with 30.34 per cent of factories producing electrical appliances, electronic parts and scientific equipment, followed by 14.13 per cent dedicated to rubber, plastic and PVC leather. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-10-15

[webfact]

40-yr-old engineer jumps from 12m Ploenchit BTS platform to his death, most likely from stress /TANN

[george]

Volunteers are needed at Don Mueang to help preventing flood in Nawanakorn contact Mirror Foundation on the 2nd Floor. /US Embassy BKK

US C-130 military transport aircraft & 10 US Marines with expertise in rescue ops arrive to Bangkok, to inspect flood areas & problems

[george]

AoT is confident Suvarnabhumi airport is safe as surrounded by 3.5 metre high dyke

The level of water in Bang Pa-In Industrial Estate,Ayutthaya is at 4.56 meter #ThaiFloodEng

Time: Low-Lying Bangkok Braces for Floods: http://ti.me/qbO6l0

[george]

AFP: Soldiers And Sandbags Defend Bangkok From Floods - Scene

Full story:

[george]

Bangkok Governor: Bangkok is safe but the most worrisome is the eastern part bordering Nakhon Pathom. TR @Ann_MangoTV #ThaifloodEng

Correction: West not East. Bangkok Governor: Bkk is safe but the most worrisome is the Western part bordering Nakhon Pathom.

Edited October 15, 2011 by george
Correction

[george]

Bkk Governor made it clear that Bkk will flood if water from Nakhon Pathom back tracks/@Rawangpai #ThaifloodEng

[george]

Foreigners who wants to help fortfy flood barrier @ Navanakorn industrial estate & save thousands job call Boonyarit 081-467-0351

[george]

Public vans routes Victory Monument-Thammasat Rangsit, Thammasat Taprachan-Thammasat Rangsit, Morchit BTS-Thammasat Rangsit suspend service

[george]

Bangkok traffic info: Public vans routes Victory Monument-Thammasat Rangsit, Thammasat Taprachan-Thammasat Rangsit, Morchit BTS-Thammasat Rangsit suspend service