Thailand Live Monday 17 Oct 2011

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Central Bank Estimates 100 Billion Baht in Flood Damage

The Bank of Thailand revised its estimates for damage costs caused by the floods from 60 billion baht to 100 billion baht.

The Bank of Thailand, or BOT, governor Prasarn Trairatworakul said the ongoing floods may have caused as much as 100 billion baht in damage to the Thai economy.

Hence, this translates to a 0.6 percentage point slice for the projected GDP growth this year.

Prasarn mentioned that the central bank plans to revise its estimate for this year's economic growth.

Earlier, the BOT governor estimated the total damage to be 60 billion baht, or a drop of 0.6 percentage points from the GDP.

From that number, 16 to 20 billion baht damages were done to rice crops in the agricultural sector and 25 to 30 billion baht damages resulted from losses at the Saharat Nakhon industrial estate.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-17

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Impact Arena in Nonthaburi say there is no flooding in their area & all events are running as normal /via@RichardBarrow

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BKK governor admits capital is not safe from flood threat yet; orders reinforcement of flood levee in Donmuang & Saimai /TAN_Network

Science Minister Plodprasop confident Navanakorn won't flood because it's elevated; if it doesn't flood in 7 days, BKK will be safe /TAN_Network

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Floods Leave Over 300,000 without Jobs, Labor Ministry Races to Provide Aid

The Labor Ministry is coordinating with companies to temporarily hire over 300,000 workers who have been left jobless by the flooding.

The Labor Ministry's flood relief center reported that approximately 8,450 companies and 320,000 workers have been affected by the flooding between October 1 and 13.

Labor Minister Phadermchai Sasomsap said his ministry has sought cooperation from unaffected firms to temporarily hire workers who are jobless due to flooding.

Approximately, 60,000 jobs are available for them in Chonburi, Rayong, Samut Prakarn, and Samut Sakhon provinces.

The minister has also assigned the Department of Skill Development to organize job training for the flood-hit workers to increase their employment opportunities.

Flood-affected workers with social security can receive medical services at any hospital in case of an emergency.

They are also entitled to low-interest loans worth 50,000 baht per person that they can use to repair their homes.

Affected companies may borrow up to one million baht to restore their businesses.

Five industrial estates in Ayutthaya have been inundated. They are: Saharatananakhon, Rojana, Hi-tech, Bang Pa-In and Factory Land.

Most of the factories in those industrial parks are manufacturers of automotive parts, electronic products, and computer components, such as Canon Hi-tech, Hana Semiconductor, and Hoya Lens.

In order to cope with the situation, Hoya Lens is preparing to shift production to another country.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-17

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Science and Technology Minister Assures No Flooding in Industrial Park

The president of the Flood Relief Operations Center assured there is an absence of flooding in the Industrial Park.

He said that if the floodwater does not enter the area within seven days, the Industrial Park will never flood.

Science and Technology Minister and President of the Flood Relief Operations Center, Plodprasop Suraswadi, believes that the Industrial Park will not flood because it is located on high ground.

Officials are also preparing for further floods.

He went on to say that if floodwaters do not enter the area within seven days, then the Industrial Park will never become flooded, nor will Bangkok areas.

At the Chao Phraya River, boats' propellers have been used to accelerate the drainage of water out to the sea.

However, if there are torrential rains, the river could overflow again.

Bangkok residents should follow the news and be prepared with an evacuation plan even though there has been no torrential rain.

Plodprasop went on to disclose that he is fine working with the opposition in resolving the flood crisis and that he welcomes any open comments and feedback.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-17

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USS George Washington departed Singapore to provide aid if needed in Thailand. http://on.fb.me/pqN4NH /via@USEmbassyBKK

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Agriculture Minister confident the water run off has been released into the sea

BANGKOK, 17 October 2011 (NNT)-Minister for Agriculture and Cooperatives Mr. Theera Wongsamut insists the massive run off from the North has been released into the sea and that more measures are needed to be put in place when the sea level rose again at the end of this month.

According to Mr. Theera, the level of the run off arriving in Nakhon Sawan province has declined as the amounts of water being released from major dams have been lowered.

He also downplayed an earlier concern that the run off, which was 2.29 higher than sea level, would arrive in Bangkok, saying that that volume of water had already been released into the sea on 15 October, 2011.

Mr. Theera further said that the water was being drained to the eastern side of Bangkok at the amount of 30 million cubic meters per day whereas 15 million cubic meters was drained to the west per day.

Meanwhile 50 million cubic meters more of the water are being released into the Lat-pho canal. The total amount of water flowing into the ocean is now at approximately 100 million cubic meters.

The Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives also expressed his belief that the run off from the northern region would decrease; but the embankment would still be reinforced and the water level being monitored before the sea level rise again late this month.

Meanwhile, he said it would take around 1-2 months for flood affected provinces to dry as the amount of water log now reached 10,000 million cubic meters.

-- NNT 2011-10-17

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Princess Siriwanwaree Nareerat visits flood victims in Ayutthaya

BANGKOK, 15 October 2011 (NNT) – Yesterday, Princess Siriwanwaree Nareerat proceeded to visit the Royal Flood Relief Kitchen at the front of Ayutthaya City Hall where Ayutthaya Governor Wittaya Pewpong, members of the government and private sectors were assisting flood victims.

The Royal Flood Relief Kitchen, opened on 8 September 2011, provides food to the flood victims who have evacuated to shelter in front of the City Hall and relief volunteers. It delivers two meals a day to residents in the flood-affected areas.

The princess also visited the Mobile Medical Units under Crown Prince Maha Vajiralongkorn's patronage which are stationed to cure flood-hit patients. The medical team consists of general practitioners and psychiatrists who come from the surrounding provinces and the unaffected provinces to give medical services to a lot of patients in the flood-ravaged areas.

-- NNT 2011-10-17

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Pathum Thani ready for evacuation

PATHUM THANI, 17 October 2011 (NNT) – Evacuation plans have been in place for residents in flood-prone areas in Pathum Thani.

Pathum Thani governor Peerasak Hinmuangkao said that not all people would be evacuated unless they live in two-storied houses or on high grounds.

Those having to move to the evacuation center are required to inform the village chief or the local administrative office first so that food and accommodations can be arranged for them.

The governor added that local administrative officials had been educated about the operation plans.

Despite having explained to the residents the need to prevent the inner province, Peerasak admitted that there were some people who did not understand the reason and still tried to obstruct officials’ attempt to strengthen embankments.

-- NNT 2011-10-17

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5m of earth levee at Navanakorn Ind. Park collapses causing water to reach 2nd flood barrier; soldiers speed up repair /TAN_Network

Evacuation order given it seems. Seeing factories in NavaNakorn scrambling get people out. ATTG side takes water /via@Schuimpge

If Nawanakorn Industrial Estate can't be safe, the next one could be Bang Kradee in Pathum Thanee. /via@veen_NT

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A 10m breach has opened in embankment near Navanakorn's waste treatment area. Not clear yet how far water will spread. /CH3 /via@terryfrd

[11.45am] Pracha, head of FRCtr. ordered evacuation in NavaNakorn; shutting down machinery. /via@Neaw_NBC /via@tukky_nt

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Flood Center Affirms No Flooding in BKK

The Flood Relief Operations Center has asked residents not to panic over rumors that there may be flooding in Bangkok, while the Expressway Authority of Thailand has organized temporary car parks under the expressway for residents.

Deputy Spokesman of the Flood Relief Operations Center, Wim Rungwattanajinda requested residents not to panic on rumors of flooding in Bangkok, as the government has established precautionary measures to prevent flooding in the capital.

The latest flood situation reports show that the Chaing Rak Noi floodgate has been opened to drain water into Pathum Thani Province and let water flow into the Chao Phraya River.

The northern run-off from Ayutthaya Province has also been reduced.

Vice Chairman of the Flood Relief Operations Center, General Plangkoon Klahan, said the Navanakorn Industrial Estate is being closely monitored.

He confirmed that the area is still safe from flooding.

He further asked residents to refrain from removing sandbag barriers to alleviate flooding in their area as doing so may have a more major impact on other parts.

He stated that the number of victims needed to be evacuated in high risk areas remain unconfirmed, making it difficult to deploy an exact number of officials needed to assist them.

The center clarified that the Expressway Authority of Thailand has organized nine temporary car parks that can accommodate 2,900 cars under the expressway.

Those nine car parks are located in Ngamwongwan, Ratchadapisek, Watcharapol, Asoke, near King Mongkut Hospital, North Ramintra, Ramintra, Sathupradit, and the Rama IX Bridge.

The expressway authority is prohibiting parking on all expressway to facilitate rescue and relief equipment transportation to assist flood victims and for safety reasons.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-17

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Italian Thai boxer tourist gets Phuket smack-down

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Flood protection dyke at Nava Nakorn Industrial Estate has 5 metre rupture, floodwater pours in; authorities rush to seal break, strengthen 2nd row of dyke /MCOT

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Foreign Press Criticizes Thai Govt Flood Management

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FROC Announces Evacuation of Nawanakorn Industrial Estate

Flood Relief Operations Command Center officials have announced evacuations for residents in and around the Nawanakorn Industrial Estate. The move came as 10 meters of the estate's northern soil dike collapsed. Water is now flowing into the area. Officials have asked factories within the industrial estate to stop operations and evacuate all employees.

Residents are asked to evacuate to the Thammasat University, Rangsit Campus, the Dhammakaya Temple in Pathum Thani, or the Civil Service Headquarters on Changwatthana Road.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-17

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10% of Navanakorn Industrial Park now flooded; factories hurry to move machinery and evacuate workers while repairs to levee continue /TAN_Network

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Flood relief center orders urgent evacuation of Navanakhon Industrial Estate

The National Flood Relief Centre Monday order an urgent evacuation of workers in the Navanakhon Industrial Estate and nearby residents.

The order was issue live on TV at 12:30 pm. Justice Minister Pracha Promnok, the head of the relief centre, issued the evacuation order at 11:45 am.

The order was given after the second flood embankment protecting the industrial zone in Pathum Thani collapsed.

Evacuees will be sheltered Thammasat University's Rangsit Campus, Dhammakaya Temple and the government Complex in Chaeg Wattana.

-- The Nation 2011-10-17

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SET closes up midday break by 9.76 points at 965.57 with value of Bt14.05 bln on speculative buying /TAN_Network

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Traffic on Phahonyothin Rd in front of Navanakorn Industrial Estate; evacuees advised to go to Govt Complex on Chaengwattana Rd /TAN_Network

Officials prepare to use sand packed containers to plug holes at flood walls in Navanakorn Industrial Park /TAN_Network

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[1pm] Chaos at Nava Nakorn Estate as people rushed to get out of the area; terrible traffic /via@tukky_nt

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EVACUATION ORDER: Residents in and around Nava Nakorn Industrial Estate

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Bangkok not yet safe; northern suburbs at risk of flooding: BMA Governor Sukhumbhand

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Phuket may get a trade office

CONCERNED: Governor Tri told DFT officials that the Phuket Deep Sea Port needs warehouses.

Phuket trade values over 4 years. Source: Customs

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Panic parking seems to have taken a lot of cars from Bkk streets. Traffic flows have been incredible sometimes. /via@tulsathit

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Cambodia bans maids from working in Malaysia

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40 percent wage rise approved /via@Radio_Thailand

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Evacuations ordered as Nava Nakorn defences breached

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Rickshaw charity rally assured Bangkok not flooded

TAT: Flooding not as widespread as media coverage may indicate

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Pathum Thani court postpones all trials

The Nation

The Pathum Thani Provincial Court has postponed all court trials indefinitely due to flooding condition.

After the flood subsided and situation back to normal, the court will contact all litigants about new dates for court trials, said provincial court judge Urairat Noisuwan.

For more information, call 025816303 extension 301,200 and 0258165566 during office hours.

-- The Nation 2011-10-17