Thailand Live Tuesday 18 Oct 2011

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Poll: Govt's Flood Relief Operations Centre gets thumbs down; 86% say flood information unclear, confused; 87% untrusting /MCOT

Soldiers adjust plan for flooded Navanakorn by setting up another level of sandbags to surround flood water and pump water out /TAN_Network

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Nava Nakorn dykes breached; Evacuation in process

PATHUM THANI, Oct 18 – The Nava Nakorn Industrial Estate in the northern approaches to the Thai capital has been flooded after its protective dyke on Monday was breached at two locations and floodwaters poured into Thailand’s oldest manufacturing centre.

Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) Director Justice Minister Pracha Promnok said he will meet top officials from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the Royal Irrigation Department and the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives this afternoon to coordinate implementation of the measure.

FROC will order the opening of sluice gates to drain floodwater from the Nava Nakorn Industrial Estate as thousands of workers are evacuating the site.

So far, 30 to 40 per cent of Nava Nakorn is flooded, Justice Minister Pracha said.

Regarding the measures to fight flooding at the estate, the sluice gates will be opened to drain floodwater from Nava Nakorn probably into Rapeepat canal, to the Bangpakong River and to the sea.

This may impact residents along the Rapeepat Canal and government officials are visiting them to explain the need for the action, he said.

The opening of some sluice gates must be delayed to allow the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to complete reinforcement of dykes in vulnerable areas in northern Bangkok.

Nava Nakorn Industrial Estate committee asked FROC to open five sluice gates around the estate to relieve flooding while operations to repair the dykes progress at several sites.

The Management of the Nava Nakorn Industrial Estate said a section of the damaged dyke, causing waist-high flood in a part of the industrial estate, has been plugged, but floodwaters overflowed another portion of the dyke, now being repaired.

There is a shortage of manpower and no electricity, both being obstacles to fighting the flood. Electricity was cut in many parts of the estate.

Meanwhile, several thousand workers are evacuating the estate Tuesday morning. Many workers are wading out through the flood while military trucks are carrying others. Small vehicles cannot pass some flooded roads in the estate.

An Army Chinook helicopter operation to drop containers to block the flood at some locations in the damaged dykes failed, and the flood embankments of several plants also failed to hold out the water.

Col Songwit Noonpakdee, Commander of the 11th Infantry Regiment, King's Guard, is in charge of evacuating workers from the Nava Nakhon Industrial Estate. Soldiers are patrolling to help stranded workers.

First Army Region Commander Lt-Gen Udomdej Sritabutr is meeting with officials at FROC’s Don Mueang headquarters to find measures to relieve the water siege at Nava Nakorn Industrial estate. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-10-18

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Flood burst into watergate at Phraya Bunlue canal; Bang Bua Thong's business zone inundated with 1m deep water; evacuation continues /MCOT

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Sandbag wall at Hok Wa Canal could complete in 48 hours: BKK governor

The Nation

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra on Tuesday said the reinforcement of the sandbag wall at Hok Wa Canal would be finished within the 48 hours set to prevent flood waters from overflowing into Sai Mai and Don Muang districts.

He was speaking in a press conference after visiting the site where the wall was being reinforced this morning.

He warned Bangkok residents on Monday to stay calm and keep monitoring the situation during the next 48 hours during which he would have the existing walls along Sam Wa canal reinforced from half a metre to three metres in height over a six-km stretch.

New three-metre barriers must be built along Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven and Twelve canals for a 15-km distance.

The governor said two of planned six-km stretch of walls had already been finished and the rest could possibly be finished within 48 hours.

The government already has 800,000 sand sacks for the work, said Sukhumand, who earlier said he needed one million sandbags for the work.

He told reporters if the work at Hok Wa Canal finished in time the works at five canals may not be necessary.

Dismissing the conflicts between his office and the government on the handling of the flood situation, the governor said both have same data and information but they have different interpretations.

He said Bangkok will not suddenly be under water and the floodwater would not abruptly flow into the capital as has happened in other provinces because his office believed in the government's handling of the situation.

"I would like to ask people to listen to me only. I never think that Bangkok is safe. We will closely monitor the situation and be alert," he said.

Some 1,500 people, reportedly from many districts, crowded into a school in Don Muang district, which is used as a packing site for sandbags. Helping to do the work were soldiers, district staff and government officials.

-- The Nation 2011-10-18

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Democrat urges Thaksin to tell red shirts to stop causing rifts

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Manufacturers to Step Up Production during Flood Crisis

Thai manufacturers have pledged to increase their production capacity to meet the spike in demand for consumer goods during the flood crisis.

They are asking the government to relax some inspection measures on imported raw materials to put goods back on the supermarket shelves sooner.

Federation of Thai Industries, or FTI, President Payungsak Chartsutipol today met with Commerce Minister Kittirat Na Ranong.

He said manufacturers will do their best to step up the production of consumer goods, especially those in high demand during the flood crisis.

Nevertheless, Payungsak said manufacturers have urged the government to relax the inspection process on raw material import, especially canned food and other essential consumer goods.

He hopes the measures will allow manufacturers to put goods back on the supermarket shelves sooner.

Under a normal circumstance, it would take approximately three months for canned food items to be produced and undergo a routine inspection process.

As of now, the widespread flooding in various provinces has disrupted production as well as logistic processes, leading to a 30-percent decrease in supply of goods in the market.

Meanwhile, a senior executive of Thai President Foods, the manufacturer of Mama instant noodle, Pun Paniangvait, said the company has not been affected by the ongoing floods.

He clarified that a shortage of instant noodle on the supermarket shelves was caused by glitches in the logistic process.

He added floods have also disrupted transportation and delayed distribution of products.

The company has increased its daily production by 50 percent during the flood crisis.

The daily output of Mama has increased from 3.6 million to 5.4 million units.

Its production plants have already been running around the clock for two weeks.

He expressed his confidence that there will be an adequate supply of instant noodle in the market.

Director General of the Internal Trade Department, Watcharee Vimooktayon, said the department will set up marketplaces where foods and necessities, including pork, eggs, instant noodle and milk will be sold at discounted prices.

The project has been launched in 15 provinces affected by floods, such as Saraburi, Chainat, Singburi, Lopburi and Nonthaburi.

The project will be in place until the flood situation eases.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-18

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Police General Hospital sends out Mobile Medical Unit to Saraburi

BANGKOK, 18 October 2011 (NNT) – According to the public relations unit of the Flood Relief Operations Center (FROC), Pol.Lt.Col. Kitti Cheewaissarakul, a neurological surgeon of the Police General Hospital proclaimed that the Hospital has sent out a mobile medical unit to help flood victims in Saraburi province.

A 9-person medical emergency team will be stationed at the Provincial Police Training Center Region 2 which has the capacity to accommodate approximately 800 flood victims. Currently, 120 people, mostly from Wang Noi district, Ayutthaya province, have evacuated to the center.

Such mobile medical units have been set up in Nonthaburi, Nakhon Sawan and Ayutthaya. They will continue their service until the flood water subsides.

-- NNT 2011-10-18

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BMA hospitals asked to prepare space for patients from flood-torn areas

BANGKOK, 18 October 2011 (NNT) – The Ministry of Public Health has requested hospitals under the supervision of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to reserve 5 percent of their capacity for patients to be transferred from inundated provinces.

Permanent Secretary for Public Health MD Paichit Warachit stated that the Public Health Ministry would push forward three missions as part of its contribution to the flood assistance effort. Important data will be acquired from the Flood Relief Operations Center for improving medical operations during the disaster, including the monitoring and prevention of diseases. The Ministry will also coordinate with provincial administrations on the management of rescue boats and the distribution of medicines to flood victims.

In addition, MD Paichit revealed that cooperation had been sought from all BMA hospitals, such as Siriraj Hospital and Ramathibodi Hospital, as well as hospitals run by the military and the private sector within Bangkok in sparing at least 5 percent of their beds for accommodating transferred emergency patients from other flood-hit provinces. If the hospitals agree to do as requested, a total of 1,500 beds are expected to be prepared for incoming patients each day.

However, as Bangkok itself is also at risk of flooding, the Ministry has already drawn up a contingency plan, which involves the transfer of hospital patients from the capital to nearby provinces that are unaffected by the catastrophe, such as Chon Buri, Samut Sakhon and Ratchaburi.

-- NNT 2011-10-18

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Rapipat Levee Collapses; Communities in Klong 2 and 4 Expected to Flood

News reports have confirmed that the Repipat levee has collapsed causing water to flow into communities in Kong 2 and 4 in Rangsit. Repairs are underway.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-18

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Warning: Runoff to Flow into Minburi, Nong Jok, Lad Krabang today and tomorrow

The National Irrigation Department has warned locals in the districts of Meenburi, Nong Jok, and Lad Krabang that runoff from the North will reach the area later today or tomorrow. Residents are advised to move their belongings to higher ground while authorities build a dike to decrease the flow of water.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-18

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Bangkok City Hall races to prevent incoming deluge

BANGKOK, Oct 18 - Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra on Tuesday said the Thai capital’s flood situation is not critical, but risks still remain at makeshift dykes where workers are racing against time to reinforce the 6km flood wall along Hok Wa Canal to prevent the incoming deluge from the North.[/b]

The governor commented while inspecting construction of dykes at Hok Wa Canal and encouraged officials and volunteers in Bangkok’s last-ditch effort to prevent floodwaters from pouring into Sai Mai district.

Mr Sukhumbhand said the government today sent some 100,000 sandbags, a portion of the promised one million, and 25 truckloads of sand, to the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), for the reinforcement of dykes in the at-risk area.

The governor said that so far 1,500 people have volunteered to join the operations to build double rows of 2.8 metre-high dykes, expecting to finish within today although there are still four more kilometres to go.

Mr Sukhumbhand said it will take another three or four days to raise the dykes as high as three metres and one million sandbags are needed, a process which the governor says "will not be in time to prevent flooding".

Bangkok will be able to stop flow of floodwater from nearby Pathum Thani province if construction of 30-centimetre-high dykes at Klong Song Road and at Sai Mai Soi 85 is complete by today without having to build more dykes at Canal 8-12, the governor said.

However, floodwater will not abruptly hit the capital and that the risk needs to be tackled.

"The risk of Bangkok is at every temporary dyke, no matter at Lak Hok or Hok Wa Canal," he said. “I urge the civil sector to help protect the dykes because if any change occurs, the water can pour in." (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-10-18

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Police to Fend Off Crime during Flood Crisis

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobumrung has ordered police to help safeguard properties and ensure safety of residents affected by the widespread flooding.

Deputy Prime Minister Chalerm Yoobumrung has assigned acting police chief Police General Priewpan Damapong to get tough on crime during the flood crisis.

He ordered the police chief to dispatch police to safeguard the properties and safety of residents in flooded areas.

Residents were reported to have refused to evacuate to flood shelters as they feared that their properties will be left unprotected.

The deputy prime minister added that short-term and long-term crime solutions are being drafted and will be implemented after the flood situation eases.

Asked about the likelihood of someone else being appointed as the new police chief, Chalerm said Priewpan is the most qualified candidate for the top police job.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said the Police Policy Commission will meet and select the new police chief by tomorrow to replace Police General Wichien Podposri.

Wichien has been transferred to the secretary general post at the National Security Council.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-18

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Abac Poll: Flood relief operations center fails to convince people

BANGKOK, 18 October 2011 (NNT) – A recent Abac Poll has shown that the Flood Relief Operations Center (FROC) has failed to convince the public of the current flood situation.

The poll was conducted via telephone interviews right after several live broadcasts of the flood situation during October 17-18.

As much as 86.2 percent of the respondents still have no clear understanding as to whether their areas are flood-prone even after the updates, while 89.2 percent find the updates confusing. About 87 percent don’t trust the information from the FROC.

Most of the respondents or more than 70 percent would rather hear the latest developments from those really working in the affected areas or at evacuation centers than the announcement from the government.

When asked to assess the government performance, the respondents give the FROC only 3.36 points out of 10 for its situation updates and 3.08 points for its warning system. The survey has also found that respondents having sought help through the 1111 ext. 5 hotline do not get better information than that given by the FROC spokespersons.

Assumption University is also planning to carry out a survey on public satisfaction towards the help offered by emergency hotlines, including those set up by the Flood Relief Operations Center.

-- NNT 2011-10-18

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(16.16) People at Rattanakosin housing estate are told to evacuate now. /via@thaifloodeng /via@veen_NT

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Residents of three Pakkret tambon evacuated

The chief of Pakkret district in Nonthaburi Tuesday ordered evacuation of residents of three tambon.

Wisit Puangphet, chief of Pakkret district, said residents of Tambon Klong Phra Udom, Tambon Bangtanai and Tambon Klong Khoi were urgently evacuated after the level of floodwaters there rose very fast.

-- The Nation 2011-10-18

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'Thumbs Down' For Thai Government's Flood Centre: Poll

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Swiss Car Rental Shop owner badly beaten in East Pattaya attack

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SET index closed at 952.75, down 18.88; Bt/USD30.59; GBP48.10; AUD30.87; EUR41.85; CAD29.71; HKD3.93; SGD23.88; JPY39.62

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PATTAYA NEWS

Body of man recovered from waters off Jomtien Beach:

East Pattaya Clothes Shops shot at 8 times in late night attack:

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Rama IV Bridge in Nonthaburi will be closed for traffic from 5pm today, on unusually high water level. /via@veen_NT

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Floods inundate communities at Rangsit's Klong 1-4 after flood protection dyke at Rapeepat Canal has five metre rupture /MCOT

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Over 700 dead in Southeast Asia floods: UN

GENEVA, October 18, 2011 (AFP) - Over 700 people have been killed and eight million affected by heavy flooding across Southeast Asia, the United Nations said Tuesday, adding that it stood ready to provide humanitarian relief.

"The UN is ready to provide aid," said Elisabeth Byrs, spokeswoman for the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Torrential rains have pelted Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, cutting off roads and destroying homes and crops.

Byrs warned that sea surges were expected in Thailand on Wednesday, as well as from October 28 through 30, which could threaten to break through flood barriers.

A landslide alert has also been issued for four provinces in the south of Thailand.

In Laos, 892 homes have been washed away and 2,500 livestock perished, and in Cambodia and Vietnam access is difficult to affected zones, Byrs said.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-10-18

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FROC: 80% Of Nava Nakorn Submerged

The Flood Relief Operations Command has revealed that as much as 80 percent of the Nava Nakorn Industrial Estate has been inundated. Authorities assure the general public that floodwaters have not breached the Thammasat University's Rangsit Campus.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-18

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Expressway tollgates closed by flooding

Express Authority of Thailand on Tuesday suspended services at the Bang Pain and Chiang Rak tollgates in Pathum Thani after major flooding hit the province.

Ayyanat Tinapai, EXAT's deputy governor, said the services would be suspended for the inbound and outbound routes of Bang Pain and outbound of Chiang Rak, effective immediately and continuing until the situation returns to normal.

The decision came after about a stretch of seven kilometres of the expressway in the province, which are under construction, was submerged under water about 80 centimetres deep.

Pathum Thani is one of many provinces hard hit by the inundation.

-- The Nation 2011-10-18

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Same water volume released to Chao Phraya

The Nation

Bhumibhol Dam releases more water into the Chao Phraya River by 10 million cubic metres a day, but officials assured all that it would not aggravate the water level.

Director of Bhumibol Dam Bun-in Chuenchaovalit said that while the volume is 10 million cubic metres higher, the volume released by nearby Sirikit Dam is reduced by the same level. As a result, only 60 million cubic metres are released to the river daily, unchanged from Oct 16.

He said that more water must be released from Bhumibhol Dam given more rainfalls.

-- The Nation 2011-10-18

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Rapeepat Canal embkt collapses in 30m stretch, evacuation ordered; Navanakorn Ind Estate flooding increases rapidly, official move out /TAN_Network

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Evacuation of people from Nava Nakorn will end tonight

BANGKOK, 18 October 2011 (NNT) – Evacuation of people residing in the Nava Nakorn Industrial Estate, Pathum Thani province, is expected to finish before it’s dark today with the help of military officers, workers and volunteers.

Several trucks from the private sector and military units as well as factory-owned container trucks are used in evacuating the citizens inside the estate to Phahonyothin roadside while related officials keep making alarming announcements urging stranded people to make their ways to the spots where the trucks can access.

It is expected that the evacuation will be completed before the night draws in. Officials says the water level is still rising continuously whereas the water level in front of the estate is approximately 50 cm high, making four-wheeled pick-ups unable to pass through. Moreover, the water is over 2 metres high in several spots of the industrial estate. However, due to the pouring rain, the evacuation is delayed.

-- NNT 2011-10-18

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30 Air Force planes relocated from Don Mueang

Thirty Air Force aircraft based in Don Mueang airport's military terminal have been relocated to three airbases U Tapao naval base in Chon Buri, Wing 41 in Chiang Mai and Wing 1 in Nakhon Ratchasima.

Ten other Air Force aircraft remain at Don Muang airport for possible rescue and receovery missions but are readied for emergency relocation at a three hours’ notice, said Air Force spokesman Air Vice Marshall Monthol Satchukorn.

Weaponries and explosives have been relocated to depots outside Bangkok and equipment needed in landing are moved one metre further up.

Air Force military police are now handling civil affairs inside the airport compound and will supervise evacuation if or when needed.

-- The Nation 2011-10-18

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Bang Kradi Industrial Estate,Pathum Thani likely to be hit by floods after Nava Nakorn,Irrigation Dept warned Tue.

Pakkret-Bang Pa-in expressway is closed Tue due to flood,Expressway Authority of Thailand said.

Residents in Nakhon Pathom's Buddhamonthon warned to move belongings to higher ground: MCOT #thaifloodEng

Irrigation Dept warned residents outside Bangkok's northern floodwalls,along King Kaew and Rom Klao Rd,to evacuate to higher grounds /The Nation

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Aussie expat recovers from Phuket balcony fall

Aussie Rod Palmer is recovering well after suffering a slew of serious

injuries sustained in a fall from a balcony at his Phuket home in Rawai.

Photo: Bob Mott/ACYC

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