Thailand Live Wednesday 19 Oct 2011

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Thailand Live Wednesday 19 October 2011

News, Bits and Tweets

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

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Related topic: Thailand Live Tuesday 18 Oct 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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Bangkok's fate rests on flood barriers

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Soldiers repair breached dyke

The Nation

Pathum Thani

Floodwaters destroyed some sections of the temporary dyke built along Rapheephat Canal yesterday afternoon, flooding some residences in Khlong Luang district's Khlong 3 and 4 areas, while Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra led an airborne inspection of the severely flooded Nava Nakorn Industrial Estate.

Nava Nakorn Hospital is also evacuating patients to prepare for power cuts in some areas.

Initially, a 10-metre-section of the dyke fell apart at 1pm, prompting officials and locals to use foundation pillars and sandbags to repair it. However, the flood waters continued eroding the barrier and submerging the nearby Rapheephat 1 housing estate, as officials alerted the Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) to send people to help prevent further flooding, otherwise the huge volume of water would pour into the Talad Thai area and Rangsit Prayoonsak Canal.

At press time, officials were repairing the barrier in order to protect Khlong 3 and Khlong 4 areas as well as the rest of Khlong Luang district from submerging.

Yingluck, accompanied by Transport Minister Sukampol Suwannathat and Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha, flew over the Nava Nakorn Industrial Estate in a helicopter at 3.20pm.

First Army Region Commander Lt-General Udomdetch Sitabutr said 90 per cent of the industrial estate was under water, and while 10 per cent of the factories in the area had been severely damaged by the two-metre-deep floods, many of them still cannot be assessed.

Meanwhile, some 600 military technicians have been given the job of fixing the breached flood barriers to the north and west of the estate, while soldiers are helping residents evacuate, he said.

Prayuth said the Army was pitching in to help life in Nava Nakorn return to normal, and that soldiers would also help build stronger flood barriers and pump water out in other industrial estates once the situation is stable. He also urged officials to check, repair and strengthen flood barriers along the Chao Phraya River and other waterways in Bangkok, as there were signs of them brimming over.

He also urged people to look for solutions instead of pointing fingers as he explained that a large volume of water would be directed to the sea via canals and rivers. However, despite the continuous dredging of canals, water was being drained far too slowly as the sea tides were on the rise yesterday.

Prayuth warned that the sea tide is expected to rise further on October 28-30, as he admitted that the Central region was in a critical situation.

He also admitted that many people were not ready for a compromise and wanted to share their woes equally, adding that the Army would help find more shelters if those available weren't sufficient and that the Army Region 4 was prepared to tackle flood in the South.

Justice Minister Pracha Promnok, in his capacity as chief of FROC, said they were considering opening five sluice gates later yesterday, as requested by the people in Nava Nakorn, though they still had to speak to those who would be affected first. As the government is planning to direct the floods to the sea via the east and west of the capital, he said the government would first discuss the matter with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, adding that there was no need to declare a state of emergency yet.

Defence Minister General Yuthasak Sasiprapha said since soldiers were exhausted from working night and day to protect the Nava Nakorn estate, he had told them to work in shifts. He has also put a Chinook helicopter on standby to help move heavy objects.

Meanwhile, flood waters have moved through Phaholyothin and Rangsit-Pathum Thani roads and flooded the Chunchon Prachathipatwittayakhan School in Pathum Thani's Thanyaburi district that was being used as a temporary shelter for 320 evacuees. The Nakhon Rangsit Municipality is also warning residents of the 2,500-houshold 200-year-old Rattana-kosin housing estate to move their belongings to higher ground.

In Nonthaburi, the provincial rural highway office yesterday closed the Rama IV bridge to motorists at 5pm due to 60-centimetres of water and to make way for building a metre-high flood barrier and pumping out the water. The bridge is expected to reopen the next day.

-- The Nation 2011-10-19

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Thousands may be left jobless

The Nation

The inundation of 14,172 factories and businesses in 20 provinces has adversely affected 663,218 workers, Arthit Isamo, director-general of the Labour Protection and Welfare Department, said yesterday.

Severe flooding in Pathum Thani forced 3,326 factories to close, leaving 218,474 workers out of work, he said citing reports released at noon yesterday.

The flooding of the Nava Nakorn Industrial Estate could also have a negative impact on 175,000 employees because 227 establishments have had to suspend operations, he added. Arthit said he told Pathum Thani Labour Protection and Welfare officials to ask the establishments to continue paying workers while their businesses were closed.

Arthit added that according to the Ayutthaya Labour Protection and Welfare Office, 15 of 30 establishments in Bang Pa-in and Rojana industrial estates had paid their employees in full, another 14 had paid 75 per cent of the wages, while one firm had paid half the month's wages. It is estimated that 100,000 workers in Ayutthaya could lose their jobs, while the situation in Pathum Thani could only be judged after five or six days, once the floods had subsided.

-- The Nation 2011-10-19

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Some 90,000 flood victims are suffering from stress: Thailand

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Two Ayutthaya watergates in need of urgent repair: expert

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Centre set up for foreign donations

The Nation

The Foreign Ministry has set up a centre to accept donations from foreign countries as part of the National Flood Relief Centre.

Thani Thongpakdi, the ministry's spokesman, said yesterday that the centre had already received Bt500,000 from the Embassy of Saudi Arabia, 100,000 sandbags from the Australian Embassy, an offer of life vests from the Japan-based Association of Medical Doctors of Asia and Bt82,622 from the Hoopoe Bird Foundation.

Meanwhile, Thai embassies in Riyadh, Tehran, Dubai and Vancouver have raised Bt151,224 in donations from Thai expatriates.

-- The Nation 2011-10-19

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Producers look to Thai govt for revival

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Bangkok flooding has taken 25% of the world's hard disk manufacturing capacity offline

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The Thai Flood Situation Is Critical, So Why Not Tell People?

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Two more campuses added to shelter list

The Nation

Education Minister Woravat Auapinyakul said yesterday that he had told Kasetsart University's Bang Khen Campus and Sripathum University to set up new shelters now that Thammasat University's Rangsit Campus is crowded with 3,500 evacuees.

The two campuses would be the latest addition to the ministry's list of 104 educational institutions offering shelter in 13 provinces. In addition, he said, the next semester has been postponed from November 1 to November 19 or 20 for flood-hit institutions. The 2,369 schools damaged by flooding would need Bt1.4 billion for repair and rehabilitation.

-- The Nation 2011-10-19

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Schools can reopen later: minister

The Nation

As many as 2,369 schools nationwide are submerged, Education Minister Woravat Auapinyakul said yesterday, adding that these institutions would be allowed to postpone the start of the new semester to November 19-20.

He said the semester start could be postponed further if the inundation persists.

Woravat said the massive flooding had caused huge losses and that about Bt1.4 billion was needed to repair these schools. The ministry will ask the Cabinet to allocate the funds.

Schools where the floods have receded can start repairs and seek reimbursement later, he advised.

Meanwhile, more than 100 schools in flooded areas are providing shelter to evacuees, while some schools have set up kitchens to provide meals to those affected.

Woravat has urged people who need assistance to call the 24-hour 1579 hotline or contact schools nearby.

-- The Nation 2011-10-19

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CAT Telecom Set Up Emergency Center To Assure Internet Communication

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FLOOD CRISIS

Charity offers $150,000 on relief for affected children

THE NATION

Global child-rights charity Plan International says it will spend US$150,000 (Bt4.5 million) on emergency relief supplies for about 6,000 children and mothers affected by Thailand's flooding.

After visiting evacuation centres in Ayutthaya, one of the worst hit among 27 provinces, Plan Thailand has committed to deliver a comprehensive relief package for the evacuation centres, including items for young children - one of the floods' most affected and vulnerable groups. Of the 2.4 million flood victims, 700,000 are believed to be children.

The items include diapers, baby food, clothes, children's lifejackets, medical supplies, recreational kits such as toys and books, and toiletries for children and mothers, as well as boats for their communities.

"While many humanitarian supplies from other aid agencies cater for adults, Plan has been asked by the Thai government to contribute with immediate aid, including psychosocial assistance, for young children and mothers, which is Plan's expertise," Plan Thailand acting country director Sunan Samrianrum said.

Plan International has worked with children and their communities in Thailand for three decades.

-- The Nation 2011-10-19

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Jobs created for laid-off workers

The Nation

The Labour Ministry has compiled a directory of 25,000 vacant positions in the region for people who have lost their jobs due to flooding.

Prawit Kiangphon, director-general of the Employment Department, said yesterday that laid-off workers could immediately start working in jobs available in Rayong, Chon Buri, Prachin Buri and Samut Prakan. The department will also be hosting job fairs and some vocational training courses at flood shelters.

It will also kick off government-to-government labour projects starting with one from Israel for 5,000 farm workers.

-- The Nation 2011-10-19

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Nava Nakorn disaster: too little done too late

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Compensation for those who 'lend land'

The Nation

The Cabinet yesterday approved compensation for property owners who agree to allow flood water to be drained through their land.

Under the new regulation drafted by the Interior Ministry, residents in areas or villages that are not inundated would be rewarded if the authorities found it necessary to divert flood water to speed up drainage.

Meanwhile, Democrat MPs have pledged to contribute a month's pay to help flood victims.

The main opposition party expects to raise Bt5 million for the relief fund.

Democrat MP Thaworn Senneam said his party believes that the flooding would stretch out for months, so the MPs would rally to assist the sufferers as long as it takes.

-- The Nation 2011-10-19

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Thawee appointed new secretary general of SBPAC

The Nation

The Justice Ministry's deputy permanent secretary Thawee Sodsong will replace Phanu Uthairat as chief of the Southern Border Provinces Administrative Centre (SBPAC) - a move that won the Cabinet nod yesterday.

Phanu, meanwhile, will work as adviser to the prime minister, Deputy Government Spokesman Anusorn Eamsa-ard said.

-- The Nation 2011-10-19

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Phuket’s new-look Sarasin Bridge already needs a clean-up

Phuket’s Sarasin Bridge viewpoint is particularly popular at dusk,

when it affords stunning views of the setting sun.

Photo: Warisa Temram

Local administrative bodies on both the Phuket and Phang Nga sides

of the bridge will be asked to organize the vendors.

Photo: Warisa Temram

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Pledge of extra funding for boost in efficiency: Thailand water management

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PICTURES

The Washington Post

Flooding devastates Thailand

Follow this link: http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/flooding-devastates-thailand/2011/10/18/gIQA57EmuL_gallery.html

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STOPPAGE TIME

Yingluck must decide; this is her biggest test so far

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Japanese Industries' relocation to Thailand undone by historic floods

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Bangkok: Saensaeb Canal boat cancels service today /

High level of water at Rangsit Canal; evacuation carried out at Rangsit Canal 5; flooding expands in Bangbuathong /

/TAN_Network

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Bangkadi Ind Est in Pathun Thani faces 1m flooding; locals evacuated; residents of White House housing estate evacuated /TAN_Network

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Big C Navanakorn where TAN's live report team worked out from y'day is now flooded;locals who were living in its parking lot evacuated /TAN_Network

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Foreign Nationals Robbed At Gunpoint In Pattaya Condominium

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Evacuations Underway For White House Housing Estate in Pathum Thani

Evacuations are underway for residents in the White House Housing Estate in Pathum Thani Province as water levels rise quickly. Floods there are expected to rise as high as 3 meters. More than six thousand residents are being evacuated to Don Muang via Mass Rapid Transit Authority buses.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-19

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Pathum Thani's Bang Kradee municipality shoots off flares warning public to evacuate as floodwaters pour in; industrial estate so far unaffected /Mcot