48 Hours: Deadline Bangkok

[webfact]

48 hours: Deadline Bangkok

KHANITTHA THEPPAJON,

OLARN LERTRATTANADAMRONGKUL

THE NATION

In a televised solemn flood warning by Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Palibatra last night, Bangkok residents are advised to stay clam and keep monitoring the situation in the next 48 hours, when the next statement is possible if not flash flood.

"Be alert, but please don’t panic": he told the audience, at a press conference intially intended as an emergency session and scheduled at a cable channel, and later downgraded to serving as an alert and aired on Modern 9 Channel.

"We have 48 hrs to do it. If the reinforcement fails, Sai Mai and Don Muang districts would very likely be hit," he said. If floods hit Sai Mai and Khlong Sam Wa districts, a total of 127,728 people could be affected.

The governor said 1.2-million sandbags, including a million pledged by the government, were needed to reinforce flood walls at Hok Wa canal in Sai Mai district. He repeated a request at the end of the statement and called for the sandbags from any willing donor.

"We thank the government for promising the one-milion sandbags, but we will need them now."

The existing walls along Sam Wa canal must be reinforced from currently half a metre to three metres in height at a six-km stretch, while three-metre new barriers must be built along Eight, Nine, Ten, Eleven and Twelve canals for a 15-km distance. "Normally this will take seven days but we will do it by the next three or four days," he added.

Bangkok residents could in the meantime move their belongings to uipper floors or move up power sockets, he said. If not for this year, this might be useful in the future, who knows," he said. "Problem is now bigger than before, but please don’t panic."

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration officials will keep re-assessing situation and will inform public immediately of any development, while a large number of inmates had been deployed to help with ongoing efforts.

Sukhumbhand earlier said the core of the capital should be quite safe although some threats remained and daily assessment of the flood situation was needed.

Visiting the Leab Khlong 2 community in Sai Mai, Sukhumbhand had officials elevate the community's 1.25km road - as well as the 1.5km Sai Mai Road - by 30cm. The Khlong 2 canal was brimming, so officials opened the canal water gate at 40cm.

The city has strengthened its flood prevention ridges and roads as well as building a 7km-long 50cm-high earth dyke along Khlong 6 canal - due to be completed yesterday. These defences should be enough to protect Bangkok city - provided no emergency occurred, Sukhumbhand said.

The Nava Nakorn flood was far from Bangkok, he said, and could be controlled, so people shouldn't panic. "I disagree with those saying Bangkok is 100 per cent safe because we have a lot of floodwater in surrounding areas - but I believe the city's flood barriers should hold them," he said, adding that officials would monitor things to prevent flooding in risky areas.

Meanwhile, Nong Chok district's 73 communities, submerged for a month now, have called for 24,670 sandbags, 39,700 metres of wooden walkways, and 30 mobile toilets. They want three vehicles to transport people, as many parts of Ruam Pattana and Yangpanthana roads are under a metre of water.

Deputy Governor Pornthep Techapaiboon said Bangkok had had 3 metres of rain this year - triple the usual amount. The city would dig 10 canals to increase its ability to support rainfall of 100mm an hour.

-- The Nation 2011-10-18

[gummy]

"The problem now is now bigger than before, please don't panic"

Well that must be the understatment of the year. Where do these buffoons get their ideas from. Firstly to be a problem bigger than before is he saying before he spoke yesterday, before last week or before he had his lobotomy ?

Secondly to make such statements, "please don't panic" guess what will happen ?

I suspect that so long as their own residences are not hit their primary concern even now is how the billions of aid and re-development that will be needed is going to get skimmed to this country's leaders friends and families businesses and associated cronies rather than spending it on a 50 year water management scheme that all of Thailand could benefit from, rich or poor!

[chmiroau]

One word, MISMANAGEMENT. The current government should be removed because of its inadequacies, lies and deceptions toward the Thai public. I feel so sad for the people here they don't have the best of lives to start with, made all the worst by their choice of government.

[EyesWideOpen]

"The problem now is now bigger than before, please don't panic"

Well that must be the understatment of the year. Where do these buffoons get their ideas from. Firstly to be a problem bigger than before is he saying before he spoke yesterday, before last week or before he had his lobotomy ?

Secondly to make such statements, "please don't panic" guess what will happen ?

I suspect that so long as their own residences are not hit their primary concern even now is how the billions of aid and re-development that will be needed is going to get skimmed to this country's leaders friends and families businesses and associated cronies rather than spending it on a 50 year water management scheme that all of Thailand could benefit from, rich or poor!

+1

[robblok]

"The problem now is now bigger than before, please don't panic"

Well that must be the understatment of the year. Where do these buffoons get their ideas from. Firstly to be a problem bigger than before is he saying before he spoke yesterday, before last week or before he had his lobotomy ?

Secondly to make such statements, "please don't panic" guess what will happen ?

I suspect that so long as their own residences are not hit their primary concern even now is how the billions of aid and re-development that will be needed is going to get skimmed to this country's leaders friends and families businesses and associated cronies rather than spending it on a 50 year water management scheme that all of Thailand could benefit from, rich or poor!

When they said the worst was over and i still saw the water rising outside our village in Nonthaburi, i thought they were lying. Now its confirmed. They are utterly incompetent only want to bring good news.

[lazygourmet]

Especially for Rob -and those who are living in the same area than us-, I am just back from my morning ride and now the rice fields, where they were pumping the floods from the canals into them, are reaching streets levels. Earlier this morning, they moved the pumps to all the under highway bridges pass-away to ease the traffic .

[BigBikeBKK]

Actually Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Palibatra has always erred on the side of caution. He's been a voice of reason compared to the Yingluck administration.

Edited October 18, 2011 by metisdead
Bold font removed.

[konfuzed]

The sheer maths of the 1.2 million sandbags is enormous.

1,200,000 in 48 hrs. That is 25,000 per hour or 417 per minute.

And needing coordination on top of that.

Then Bangkok needs to hope that it doesn't get taken down by people up stream.

Hope that this all passes soon.

Don't panic!

[chmiroau]

This is great news. We went to Central Rama 2 to go shopping, actually spend some money there, BE CUSTOMERS. The problem, no truckin carparks as almost the whole car park was taken up with people leaving their cars there because of the floods.

This is absolutely crazy, can't go shopping now, what else is there to do in Bangkok?

While others were condemning The Mall for charging for parking overnight, at least shoppers could get a parking spot when they go shopping.

[dmcguire70]

Some of the comments on this thread are quite frankly , disgusting.Blaming the Leader for a monumental natural disaster is a new low for those trying to discredit the new PM and her government.

Hang your heads in shame!!!

[robblok]

Some of the comments on this thread are quite frankly , disgusting.Blaming the Leader for a monumental natural disaster is a new low for those trying to discredit the new PM and her government.

Hang your heads in shame!!!

She should hang her head in shame, the flood is not made by her. But she and her clowns are handling it badly. Everyone in this red dominated village agree that the government is crazy.

The people in charge just are not up to the job. Good thing they have brought in the army at least they have a chain of command and order. This government every one it talking to the news and has to backtrack on their words. I am living in one of the area's hit thank god not badly. Maybe if you did too it would give you some more insights.

[robblok]

Especially for Rob -and those who are living in the same area than us-, I am just back from my morning ride and now the rice fields, where they were pumping the floods from the canals into them, are reaching streets levels. Earlier this morning, they moved the pumps to all the under highway bridges pass-away to ease the traffic .

Morning mate, just came back from my daily inspection of the sandbags and the flooded road. The water is again higher, yesterday i was happy because i actually believed that the agricultural minister knew that the worst was over with the runoff.

Obviously this is not the case if you read the news today. So far we are not in imminent danger. But it gets frustrating that nobody knows what is happening.

[lazygourmet]

The sheer maths of the 1.2 million sandbags is enormous.

1,200,000 in 48 hrs. That is 25,000 per hour or 417 per minute.

And needing coordination on top of that.

Then Bangkok needs to hope that it doesn't get taken down by people up stream.

Hope that this all passes soon.

Don't panic!

Just around our single house we have 500+ sandbags...

Hopefully useless for the moment

[w11guy]

One word, MISMANAGEMENT. The current government should be removed because of its inadequacies, lies and deceptions toward the Thai public. I feel so sad for the people here they don't have the best of lives to start with, made all the worst by their choice of government.

So you don't believe in democracy then?

[hushai1]

Some of the comments on this thread are quite frankly , disgusting.Blaming the Leader for a monumental natural disaster is a new low for those trying to discredit the new PM and her government.

Hang your heads in shame!!!

A good friend of mine is a Thai business man. I have known him for over 5 years. He told me that he worked with some people that know the new PM personally. His comment about her was: "She is utterly incompetent. She only knows how to get a good manicure!"

[lazygourmet]

Especially for Rob -and those who are living in the same area than us-, I am just back from my morning ride and now the rice fields, where they were pumping the floods from the canals into them, are reaching streets levels. Earlier this morning, they moved the pumps to all the under highway bridges pass-away to ease the traffic .

Morning mate, just came back from my daily inspection of the sandbags and the flooded road. The water is again higher, yesterday i was happy because i actually believed that the agricultural minister knew that the worst was over with the runoff.

Obviously this is not the case if you read the news today. So far we are not in imminent danger. But it gets frustrating that nobody knows what is happening.

Hi Rob!

Around noon, I am going to join a truck to deliver some essential goods to the other side of Wat La pla Duk and the canal at the east of the road from our local immigration office.

Apparently, they are really in need there... and it's not even five kilometers from home

I will keep you posted...

[finnomick1]

Some of the comments on this thread are quite frankly , disgusting.Blaming the Leader for a monumental natural disaster is a new low for those trying to discredit the new PM and her government.

Hang your heads in shame!!!

Nobody can blame Ms. Yingluck for the ' monumental natural disaster ' , BUT they can surely blame her for her and her government's handling or lack of handling it. I think that is what people are getting at.

[robblok]

Especially for Rob -and those who are living in the same area than us-, I am just back from my morning ride and now the rice fields, where they were pumping the floods from the canals into them, are reaching streets levels. Earlier this morning, they moved the pumps to all the under highway bridges pass-away to ease the traffic .

Morning mate, just came back from my daily inspection of the sandbags and the flooded road. The water is again higher, yesterday i was happy because i actually believed that the agricultural minister knew that the worst was over with the runoff.

Obviously this is not the case if you read the news today. So far we are not in imminent danger. But it gets frustrating that nobody knows what is happening.

Hi Rob!

Around noon, I am going to join a truck to deliver some essential goods to the other side of Wat La pla Duk and the canal at the east of the road from our local immigration office.

Apparently, they are really in need there... and it's not even five kilometers from home

I will keep you posted...

Thanks keep me posted, i was near the immigration office a few days ago on the bike. Then it was still a go area. Sad to hear its now a no go area.

[OzMick]

There's certainly enough water about to do it!

Bangkok residents are advised to stay clam

[lazygourmet]

Thanks keep me posted, i was near the immigration office a few days ago on the bike. Then it was still a go area. Sad to hear its now a no go area.

West side, where immi. offices are, is still OK... -at least do able-...

Anyway, the water on that road is getting higher and higher...but that's the east side which is under water, especially the old housing estates beyond the temple.

[MaxLee]

Well the thing is, all those years, oppositions and their followers that include the PAD and UDD were so busy closing down airports and terrorizing Bangkok, blaming each other and stuff like that, that they didn't give adamn about what's gonna happen geographically within their own country. This time wasted could have been used to pay attention to future flood circumstances.

It's not only Thai politicians who are at fault, but their incompetent followers who represent those parties as well. Instead of taking action they fought each other, and against each other.

[SabaiBKK]

This is great news. We went to Central Rama 2 to go shopping, actually spend some money there, BE CUSTOMERS. The problem, no truckin carparks as almost the whole car park was taken up with people leaving their cars there because of the floods.

This is absolutely crazy, can't go shopping now, what else is there to do in Bangkok?

While others were condemning The Mall for charging for parking overnight, at least shoppers could get a parking spot when they go shopping.

oh my god no parking spot while a third of the country is underwater .... your life is soooo hard .... some people have such priorities in life .. . if you are bored go to don muang and help packing the relief donnations ..at least you will be of some use.

Edited October 18, 2011 by SabaiBKK

[h90]

Some of the comments on this thread are quite frankly , disgusting.Blaming the Leader for a monumental natural disaster is a new low for those trying to discredit the new PM and her government.

Hang your heads in shame!!!

She is blamed for the mismanagement not for the natural disaster which would be far less monumental with some government which does not need to call in Dubai for every step they take.

[h90]

Some of the comments on this thread are quite frankly , disgusting.Blaming the Leader for a monumental natural disaster is a new low for those trying to discredit the new PM and her government.

Hang your heads in shame!!!

A good friend of mine is a Thai business man. I have known him for over 5 years. He told me that he worked with some people that know the new PM personally. His comment about her was: "She is utterly incompetent. She only knows how to get a good manicure!"

"She only knows how to get a good manicure!"

Good to hear that she at least knows something.

[Bkkorupcountry]

Some of the comments on this thread are quite frankly , disgusting.Blaming the Leader for a monumental natural disaster is a new low for those trying to discredit the new PM and her government.

Hang your heads in shame!!!

She is blamed for the mismanagement not for the natural disaster which would be far less monumental with some government which does not need to call in Dubai for every step they take.

That's why from the very beginning, they should have brought Thaksin back and install him in power. I bet a lot of people wished this was done instead of the petty bickering of the anti-T's.

[SAffer]

Some of the comments on this thread are quite frankly , disgusting.Blaming the Leader for a monumental natural disaster is a new low for those trying to discredit the new PM and her government.

Hang your heads in shame!!!

She should hang her head in shame, the flood is not made by her. But she and her clowns are handling it badly. Everyone in this red dominated village agree that the government is crazy.

The people in charge just are not up to the job. Good thing they have brought in the army at least they have a chain of command and order. This government every one it talking to the news and has to backtrack on their words. I am living in one of the area's hit thank god not badly. Maybe if you did too it would give you some more insights.

No, she needn't hang her head in shame. Every Thai that voted for her should hang their head in shame. It is not her fault that she's incompetent, she is surely doing her best. But to actually vote for a 'pretty' to be the PM!!! That is shameful. The Thais have no-one to blame but themselves, they were free to vote for any party, they chose her as their leader. This is a good example of 1 man 1 vote not always being the best system for all countries.

[Bkkorupcountry]

This is great news. We went to Central Rama 2 to go shopping, actually spend some money there, BE CUSTOMERS. The problem, no truckin carparks as almost the whole car park was taken up with people leaving their cars there because of the floods.

This is absolutely crazy, can't go shopping now, what else is there to do in Bangkok?

While others were condemning The Mall for charging for parking overnight, at least shoppers could get a parking spot when they go shopping.

oh my god no parking spot while a third of the country is underwater .... your life is soooo hard .... some people have such priorities in life .. . if you are bored go to don muang and help packing the relief donnations ..at least you will be of some use.

It just shows how selfish and arrogant some people are.......

[webfact]

I've deleted one post and some replies to it........

[tominbkk]

I have a question:

My house is close to the Watcharaphon/Navamin area...what do you think the chances are of flooding in that area? Nobody here seems to have any clear idea whatsoever if we would be in a flooding zone or not, they all just say we have to wait and see. I have been using the flood maps and Google earth to try and track things, looking at distance and elevation, as well as klong locations, and I feel fairly confident it wouldn't reach to my area, but I guess, who knows? The government certainly doesn't.

Edited October 18, 2011 by tominbkk

[ihunnieibee]

I'm not sure why some of you are blaming the current government for EVERYTHING...they just stepped into power. Surely this was a problem before that, and I can't think of the previous government doing any better. I'm sure that they would be doing the same exact thing. I have seen the "Thai way" of approaching situations and it usually seems to be inaccurate in dealing with MOST MATTERS, not just this one. Just want to pretend everything is okay and fine when it isn't.

For sure this is a big deal and I don't think it's right for them to lie to us about what is going on or just say things to calm our worries when it isn't the truth. I just feel like that is the way things are done in this country and pointing the finger at just one person for the ways that most Thais think is stupid.