Thailand Live Sunday 16 Oct 2011

[webfact]

Thailand Live Sunday 16 October 2011

News, Bits and Tweets

with webfact

Keep up to date with live updates from the news, hour by hour.

For breaking news,national, regional and international news updates on a daily basis only, this thread is closed to commentary so that those who wish to follow the news can find it here...

Commentary is still open for Thailand news in the relevant thread posted in News Clippings.

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Related topic: Thailand Live Saturday 15 Oct 2011

[webfact]

Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

Follow this link: http://weather.thaivisa.com/

[george]

Minburi declared disaster area

Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has declared Minburi, eastern Bangkok, a disaster area. Minburi district chief reported 35 communities are being affected by the flood covering 4,636 households, 1,390 rai of farmland. /tv

[george]

Floods partially hit Nonthaburi

BANGKOK, 16 October 2011 (NNT) – Waterfront areas in Nonthaburi have been hit by floods and efforts are being made to bar the flooding from invading the inner zone.

At the Nonthaburi pier, flood walls have been raised by one meter to prevent the business area from being swamped.

Flooding is heavy in Pak Kret district. In Bang Bua Thong district, three housing estates and communities near canals are reportedly facing inundation.

Nonthaburi governor Vichean Putiwinyu said officials were keeping a close watch on the flood barrier. The province has prepared 104 evacuation centers for the worst-case scenario.

In related news, Chaengwattana Administrative center will also serve as a evacuation center for affected people in Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Ayutthaya. The center can accommodate about 1,000 people.

-- NNT 2011-10-16

[george]

Nakhon Sawan to reopen Highway

Nakhon Sawan governor said that officials, municipality workers and the soldiers are trying to rebuild dykes so as to open up the Asia Highway again. If the work progresses as planned, it is expected that the Asia Highway flooded for a week now at several sections in Nakhon Sawan can be reopened for traffic on October 17-18.

The Chao Phraya river in Nakhon Sawan is stable while the water level in Ping river decreases slightly as well as the level in Bhumiphol dam. /tv

[george]

Nakhon Pathom run-off is main threat to Bangkok: governor

BANGKOK: -- A build-up of run-off water in Nakhon Pathom is the biggest flood threat currently facing Bangkok, Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra said yesterday.

Large volumes of flood water surround Bangkok, with the most pressing concern being the Mahasawat Canal in the capital's Thawee Watthana district bordering Nakhon Pathom province, which is largely flooded, Sukhumbhand said.

There is a possibility that water from this area, which currently drains to the sea through the Tha Chin River, will overflow the existing barriers and enter the capital via the canal. Bangkok is at a lower elevation that the flooded areas near the canal.

The water level in the Mahasawat Canal was 1.91 metres above sea level and 89 centimetres lower than its dyke.

Sukhumbhand urged Bangkok residents not to worry, however.

After a meeting in the afternoon, Sukhumbhand said at a press conference that the flood barriers on the western side of Bangkok were not as strong as those to the north and east. Therefore, sandbag dykes would be reinforced and the situation would be closely monitored, the governor said. He surveyed the flood situation in eastern and western Bangkok from a helicopter yesterday.

The water level in the Chao Phraya River set a record for the year yesterday at 2.15 metres above sea level. At 9am at Pak Khlong Talad, the water level was 65 centimetres below the top of the dyke there, Sukhumbhand said. "We will continue to closely monitor water levels in Khlong Rangsit. [On Friday] I checked it and found the water level was not too close to the dyke level. On the western side, it would take too long to construct a dyke all the way along Putthamonthon Road, as it is too long. We have to monitor where the water is heading and where to build dykes," he said.

If Bangkok were to flood, residents would have at least seven hours to one day to prepare for evacuation, he said, adding that a water level of 2.3 metres above sea level would pose a threat to Bangkok residents outside the existing barrier line. The level was currently at 2.15 metres, he said.

Sukhumbhand said 17 districts of Bangkok have been declared emergency disaster-affected areas by the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department. He added that these areas are not that badly flooded, however, and the disaster declaration is simply a legal necessity to enable more rapid assistance measures.

Royal Irrigation Department spokesman Boonsanong Suchartpong said the department was able to handle the flood water in Bangkok. Its drainage capacity was 138-140 million cubic metres a day. The situation was expected to improve in the next few days.

Due to heavy rain in Bangkok on Friday night, the water levels in major canals, including Lat Prao, Bang Sue and Nam Kaew, rose slightly. Water drainage was proceeding slowly in nine areas in Chatuchak, Lat Phrao and Din Daeng, he said.

The official said that drainage of trapped flood water in Lat Phrao to the Chao Phraya River and through the area's giant tunnel had begun at 2am yesterday and was likely to be completed in some places, including Chokechai 4, later yesterday, barring further rain during the day.

-- The Nation 2011-10-16

[Lite Beer]

Choppers to drop supplies to hard-hit Ayutthaya

The Nation on Sunday

Ten helicopters would be used to drop flood relief supplies in hard-hit Ayutthaya, the National Flood Relief Centre said yesterday. Two helicopters, each carrying 1,000 sets of supplies, will deliver the goods to one district.

In Uthai district, where 70,000 people were affected, the helicopters will land drop supplies at the Automotive Industry Technical College. For Sena district, where 42,000 residents were affected, the dropping points will be Jaojet Municipality Office, Wat Jorakhe Rai and Industrial and Community Education College.

For Bang Pahan district, with 41,000 victims, the dropping point is the Bang Prahan-Pathum Thani elevated road (Asia Highway); Maharat district, which has 23,000 victims, will have dropping points at Wat Jaeng and Wat Phoprasit. Phachee district, with 16,000 victims, with have Phachee Sunthorn Wittaya School as its dropping point.

-- The Nation 2011-10-16

[Lite Beer]

Soldiers help repair Asia Highway

Soldiers from Jiraprawat Boot Camp in Nakhon Sawan were working hard yesterday with heavy machinery to repair the Asia Highway - the main route to Bangkok - so it can be used again, after the highway was covered with a metre of water. They expected to finish repairs last night.

In Ayutthaya's Bang Pa-in district, the Asia Highway was impassable at the 5km marker in front of Hi-tech Industrial Estate because of high flood water. Previously, it was under water at the 25km marker. The elevated Phaholyothin Highway stretch from Bang Pa-in to Wang Noi district was also impassable due to flooding.

Motorists trying to travel to Suphan Buri faced inconvenience and had to exercise caution, as roads in Pathum Thani's Lat Bua Luang district were also submerged.

-- The Nation 2011-10-16

[Lite Beer]

Supinya sees lack of trust in govt flood communications

Pravit Rojanaphruk

The Nation on Sunday

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/505592-supinya-sees-lack-of-trust-in-govt-flood-communications/page__view__findpost__p__4768119

[Lite Beer]

Help may be sought from UNESCO

The Nation on Sunday

Education Minister Worawat Auapinyakul may ask UNESCO at a meeting in France later this month to send volunteers to repair flood-damaged schools during the Christmas and New Year period.

Worawat told reporters after meeting with newly appointed German Ambassador Rolf Peter Gottfried Schulze yesterday that Germany, besides donating 100,000 euros (Bt4.2 million) to repair Ayutthaya's world heritage site and assist flood relief works, offered to host a project to get volunteers with technical skills to help with post-flood rehabilitation during the Christmas/New Year period.

The ministry thus would also invite other countries to join this project and so far Germany, France and Japan had expressed interest to join in.

The ministry would call for help at the UNESCO meeting in France, he said. Meanwhile, they would gather information about damaged schools so that volunteers - whose food costs and accommodation would be covered by the government throughout their seven- to 10-day stay - could be sent to lend a hand

-- The Nation 2011-10-16

[Lite Beer]

516,000 treated by mobile teams

The Nation on Sunday

Mobile medical teams have treated more than half a million people affected by the floods. Most suffered from Hong Kong Foot, muscle pain, flu, skin diseases and headaches, the permanent secretary of the Public Health Ministry said yesterday.

About 100 teams were dispatched to treat flood-affected people on a daily basis, he said. Out of the cumulative 516,748 patients treated, Phichit had the highest number with 112,524 patients, followed by 82,182 in Nonthaburi, 60,280 in Nakhon Sawan, 44,805 in Sing Buri and 27,753 in Nakhon Nayok.

In regard to mental health, officials visited 190 families of people killed in flood related accidents and assessed some 88,334 flood victims in 35 provinces. They found 4,723 people were under tremendous stress, 5,007 people developed depression, and 679 people were deemed a suicide risk, he said.

-- The Nation 2011-10-16

[Lite Beer]

Seeking to delay barge parade

The Nation

The organising committee for the celebrations of His Majesty's 84th birthday will seek permission from HM's principal private secretary to postpone the Royal Barge Procession scheduled for October 22 to next year.

However, a Royal Krathin ritual at Wat Arun Rajwararam would go ahead as scheduled for that day.

-- The Nation 2011-10-16

[Lite Beer]

Ministry worries over hygiene of donated food

Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/505594-ministry-worries-over-hygiene-of-donated-food/page__view__findpost__p__4768136

[Lite Beer]

EDITORIAL

Govt bumbling adds to anxiety over flood crisis

The Nation

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/505595-government-bumbling-adds-to-anxiety-over-flood-crisis/page__view__findpost__p__4768140

[Lite Beer]

Northern Bangkok under threat

The Nation on Sunday

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/505597-northern-bangkok-under-threat/page__view__findpost__p__4768147

[Lite Beer]

PM offers assurances on 'worst floods in history'

The Nation on Sunday

follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/505456-pm-yingluck-assures-public-that-govt-will-devote-full-effort-to-tackling-flood-problem/page__view__findpost__p__4768154

[Lite Beer]

Flood Prevention Measures at Suvarnabhumi Airport

All airports in Thailand, including Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, have not been affected by the floods and are operating as usual

Airports of Thailand Public Company Limited (AOT) has recently enhanced flood-prevention measures at Suvarnabhumi Airport and is working with both the public and private sectors to ensure services will not be disrupted.

Opened in 2006, Suvarnabhumi Airport was designed for continued operation at its location on a low-lying, level plain. According to AOT, the airport features an extensive water management, flood prevention and drainage system including:

*A soil barrier around the airport perimeter, 23.5km in length and 3.0m in height, (recently extended to 3.5m as a precaution), constructed by experts from the Department of Highways

* A drainage canal running parallel to and inside the barrier, 23.5km in length

*Six reservoirs with water storage capacity of 4 million cubic meters, connected to drainage canals

*Two water pumping stations located near the southeast and southwest corners of the airport, each with 4 pumps that can drain 12 cubic meters of water per second, or about 1 million cubic meters per day.

* In addition, the Water Drainage System of the Royal Irrigation Department has the ability to drain 30 million cubic meters per day from Suvarnabhumi Airport into the sea.

According to AOT’s Acting President Somchai Sawasdeepon, a “Flood Monitoring Center” has been set up at Suvarnabhumi Airport to co-ordinate with officials from Thai and international commercial airlines, Aeronautical Radio of Thailand, the Royal Irrigation Department and Samut Prakan province, in which the airport is located. The officials are monitoring water levels closely and implementing a risk mitigation plan that includes moving equipment not required to be at the airport, such as spare and unused aircraft, to alternative locations.

Given the combined capacity of Suvarnabhumi Airport and the Irrigation Department’s drainage systems, plus other water management and flood prevention measures that are in place, AOT officials are confident the that there is minimal risk of flooding at the airport and it will continue operating normally.

Contact Information:

Special Affairs Department

Suvarnabhumi Airport

Tel: +66 (0) 2132 9029

Fax: +66 (0) 2132 9019

2011-10-16

Foreign Office, The Government Public Relations Department

[Lite Beer]

8:10am No flooding at high tide in Paknam. Let's hope Bangkok does well too in an hour/Via@RichardBarrow

[Lite Beer]

Looking for a way to help Thai flood victims? Give blood to @ThaiRedCross. I donated this week. Walk-ins welcome./Via@KristieKenney

[Lite Beer]

Nervous Bangkok on alert for floods

BANGKOK, October 15, 2011 - Thailand fought to hold back floodwaters flowing towards Bangkok Saturday as a spring tide hindered efforts to protect the city of 12 million people from the kingdom's worst inundation in decades.

The authorities appeared to be winning the battle, with no reports of major flooding in inner Bangkok, which is ringed by flood walls, leaving areas outside the main city to bear the brunt of the rising waters.

“We must try to protect our economic zone including Bangkok, Suvarnabhumi Airport, industrial areas and evacuation centres,” said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra.

Sandbags have been piled alongside rivers and canals and the authorities have been racing to repair a dyke that burst on Thursday, causing a brief scare in suburbs in the north of the capital.

The floods, several metres deep in places, are currently affecting about one third of Thailand’s provinces and have damaged the homes or livelihoods of millions of people and left at least 297 people dead.

About 110,000 people around the country have sought refuge in shelters in the face of waters that have destroyed crops and inundated hundreds of factories in industrial parks north of Bangkok.

“People have been affected by floods for three months now. The government understands that and is trying to drain the water as soon as possible,” Yingluck said.

“This incident is one of Thailand’s biggest and most severe losses in history. The government will not forget the people’s grievances.”

She said foreign governments including China, Japan and the United States were giving financial or logistical support for the relief operations.

Conditions in inner Bangkok and at most of Thailand’s top tourist destinations are mostly normal and Suvarnabhumi Airport — the capital’s main international gateway, which has flood walls several metres high — is operating as usual.

This weekend Bangkok is bracing for a large amount of run-off water along with seasonal high tides that will make it harder for the flood waters to flow out to sea.

“We predict the water will be highest from October 16-18 as the high sea level combines with water from the north which will arrive in Bangkok tomorrow (Sunday),” said Worapat Tianprasit at the Royal Irrigation Department.

He said the water in the Chao Phraya River had risen to 2.27 metres above sea level on Saturday morning at high tide, which was lower than expected.

“If the tide does not exceed 2.5 metres, there won’t be flooding,” Worapat added.

Overnight thunderstorms caused some minor flooding on roads in the centre of the capital, but the authorities have said they are confident they can prevent serious inundation in the low-lying city.

“Bangkok will definitely not be affected by floods,” Justice Minister Pracha Promnog, who heads the government’s flood relief centre, said Friday.

Sandbags have been piled in front of homes and businesses in preparation for possible inundation, and some residents have chosen to their vehicles in multi-storey carparks while stocking up on food, water and flashlights.

The authorities have been dredging and draining canals to allow more water to flow through and are diverting water to areas outside the main city.

The floods have dealt a heavy blow to Thailand’s economy, disrupting production of cars, electronics and other goods.

Japanese automakers including Toyota have suspended production in the kingdom due to water damage to facilities or a shortage of components.

Three workers at a flood-hit factory north of the capital suffered minor injuries that were believed to be caused by a short circuit.

2011-10-16- pattayadailynews.com

[Lite Beer]

Floods submerged 21 provinces,damaging 113 highways,50 highways passable,73 highways impassable in 17 provinces/Via@Biz_TheNation

U.S Marines sent 26 helicopters help Thai govt's flood relief ops/Via@Biz_TheNation

Minburi declared a disaster area.Nakhon Sawan trying to rebuild dykes in order to re-open Asia Highway/Via@Biz_TheNation

[Lite Beer]

Irrigation Dept expects northern flood runoff to reach BKK today; flood barriers reinforced and drainage sped up/TAN_Network

Dusit Poll: Thais stressed out about flooding; asks govt to look into goods' prices/ TAN_Network

Repair on Ban Phrao floodgate in Pathum Thani completed; flooding reported in Klongluang, Pathum Thani/ TAN_Network

PM presides over launch of 1,028 boats helping to speed up water drainage out to sea at Phra Nangklao Bridge at 10am/ TAN_Network

Heavy rain expected in North, Northeast, Central and East/ Met Office/ TAN_Network

[Lite Beer]

Phuket Opinion: Landslides expose greed, incompetence.

Things have long gone on below the surface in Phuket, but the tradition has not been invisibNature.le to Mother

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/505622-phuket-opinion-landslides-expose-greed-incompetence/page__view__findpost__p__4768494

[Lite Beer]

Over 1,000 boats on 3 rivers set to start pushing floodwater into ocean Sunday/Mcot

More than 10,000 businesses affected by flood in 15 provinces, impacting over 350,000 workers: Labour Ministry /Mcot

[Lite Beer]

Useful map showing where it is raining in Thailand at this moment: http://t.co/1Er6J5wa /Via@RichardBarrow

Looks like it is raining in Bangkok. Watch live street cams on this map: http://t.co/QjHf7Ca7 /Via@RichardBarrow

RT @ThaiFaq: What time will [flood run-off] reach Bangkok? = King High Tide is 7:35pm so might flood then/Via@RichardBarrow

[Lite Beer]

ABAC Poll: respondents give PM 9 out of 10 on flood relief efforts; majority likes seeing PM cooperate with Opposition leader on floods /TAN_Network

[Lite Beer]

CH 3 live report from Nava Nakorn showed massive effort to plug leaking embankments. Defences further upstream continue to crumble, however. /Via@terryfrd

Suspect the post-mortem on flood causes is going to be ugly. Nothing was ready. Hope it is objective & not just a series of recriminations /Via@terryfrd

[Lite Beer]

Bkk Govnr is worried abt Sai Mai and Don Muang areas, after the flood hit parts of Pathum Thani province #CH3 /@ASEAN_NEWSROOM

[Lite Beer]

Thai floods curb production of cars, electronics - Focus

by Daniel Rook

BANGKOK, October 16, 2011 (AFP) - Thailand's worst floods in decades have jolted a global supply chain already straining under the impact of Japan's tsunami, as deluged factories threaten some of the kingdom's key export industries.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/505651-thai-floods-curb-production-of-cars-electronics/page__view__findpost__p__4768714

[Lite Beer]

Agriculture Min: water level in Singburi and Ayutthaya tends to be lower today, as massive runoff from Nakhon Sawan passed BKK /Via@Biz_TheNation

Water level in Chao Phraya peaked 9am yesterday at 2.29m. The 2.5m barriers successful in saving BKK/Via@Biz_TheNation

Irrigation Dept chief: Water level in Chao Phraya will stabilise. He focuses on draining water from industrial estates to East Bkk Via@Biz_TheNation

Water from Ayutthaya is drained to East Bkk, with uncountable number of pumps at Khlong 10. /Via@Biz_TheNation

He is trying to release water to Chiang Rak Noi. Concern is seawater to rise on Oct 28-30 Via@Biz_TheNation