Thai PM Says Floods In Parts Of Bangkok Inevitable

[nurofiend]

No one to blame right now I think... Steps should have been taken many years ago and every year it's calculating where the weakes points are and fight against it.

We (the dutch) live in big parts below sea level and that's not something you fix in 1 year (not even in our little country no)... Well I think we all understand this

unfortunately not everyone seems to understand your point and will just use this event as ammo

[scotbeve]

No one to blame right now I think... Steps should have been taken many years ago and every year it's calculating where the weakes points are and fight against it.

We (the dutch) live in big parts below sea level and that's not something you fix in 1 year (not even in our little country no)... Well I think we all understand this

Unfortunately Tino, many people do not understand this simple / complex problem. Ignorance breeds anger.....

[gl555]

No one to blame right now I think... Steps should have been taken many years ago and every year it's calculating where the weakes points are and fight against it.

We (the dutch) live in big parts below sea level and that's not something you fix in 1 year (not even in our little country no)... Well I think we all understand this

Unfortunately Tino, many people do not understand this simple / complex problem. Ignorance breeds anger.....

Oh stop with your condescension. Your constant defense of incompetence of Yingluck and her brother's cronies is what is really ignorant.

[OzMick]

Yes this is a natural event. No government past or present could have stopped it. How ever it is a state of emergency and calling it that would have allowed the army to step in no holds barred. That means a huge workforce and the end to dyke destruction. I for one am tired of the old defense she is new to politics. This situation has nothing to do with politics and the more she tries to use politically correct measures to deal with it the longer it will continue to be a problem.

No holds barred? What additional powers does the military needs that it does not already have? The military has been deployed since day 1 of the crisis. What exactly would this "huge workforce" have accomplished aside from create an additional problem in respect to logistics. The military is hard presses feeding and billeting its personnel in the flood areas now. The limited number of vehicles used to transport materiel and personnel is competing with the need to evacuate civilians and to deliver aid. There is a finite number of people that can be used for sandbagging in any particular place otherwise the people get in the way. More importantly, if there is a shortage of sandbagging supplies, what do you propose the personnel do to pass the time? Even where the military was out in full force along with the police, they were unable to stop selective destruction of the dykes in some areas. Again, what exactly would additional powers for the military are needed and what exactly will those powers achieve? Why position thousands of untrained conscripts in harm's way to assuage your concern for military rule? The shortage is in engineering equipment and personnel, not in manpower. The next shortage will be with medical facilities.

Should Bangkok suffer widespread flood damage, you will have your military emergency and you will get to see the military shooting people, which is apparently the only additional power the military does not presently have.

I remember a movie once where a man stuffed himself so full of food that he exploded. You are so full of shit that you could join him.

You think that the RTA can't handle their own logistics, that they have been fully deployed (at govt request) since day one, that an organised crew of fit young men will get in the way, or even if they were ASKED to secure the dykes? " The shortage is in engineering equipment and peorsonnel..." Well, who has it? Who's trucks and helicopters does Ms Smiley ride around in, while contributing SFA? Don't you understand that putting conscripts in harms way is what an army does?

Of course, the RTA is a pack of murderous bastards waiting on a SoE so that they can fulfill their blood lust, or is that just red-shirt propaganda?

[balo]

So where is the flooding?

I live in central Bangkok but everything seems normal here.

[ricku]

So where is the flooding?

I live in central Bangkok but everything seems normal here.

That is what we would all like to know.

If this thing was happening in a modernized country, we would have constantly updated maps of the flood and where it is heading RIGHT NOW.

But here in Thailand, it seems that no one knows anything, except the people who are already swimming.

[gl555]

So where is the flooding?

I live in central Bangkok but everything seems normal here.

That is what we would all like to know.

If this thing was happening in a modernized country, we would have constantly updated maps of the flood and where it is heading RIGHT NOW.

But here in Thailand, it seems that no one knows anything, except the people who are already swimming.

I get all my flood updates from Thaivisa.com

[ThaiOats]

Yes this is a natural event. No government past or present could have stopped it. How ever it is a state of emergency and calling it that would have allowed the army to step in no holds barred. That means a huge workforce and the end to dyke destruction. I for one am tired of the old defense she is new to politics. This situation has nothing to do with politics and the more she tries to use politically correct measures to deal with it the longer it will continue to be a problem.

No holds barred? What additional powers does the military needs that it does not already have? The military has been deployed since day 1 of the crisis. What exactly would this "huge workforce" have accomplished aside from create an additional problem in respect to logistics. The military is hard presses feeding and billeting its personnel in the flood areas now. The limited number of vehicles used to transport materiel and personnel is competing with the need to evacuate civilians and to deliver aid. There is a finite number of people that can be used for sandbagging in any particular place otherwise the people get in the way. More importantly, if there is a shortage of sandbagging supplies, what do you propose the personnel do to pass the time? Even where the military was out in full force along with the police, they were unable to stop selective destruction of the dykes in some areas. Again, what exactly would additional powers for the military are needed and what exactly will those powers achieve? Why position thousands of untrained conscripts in harm's way to assuage your concern for military rule? The shortage is in engineering equipment and personnel, not in manpower. The next shortage will be with medical facilities.

Should Bangkok suffer widespread flood damage, you will have your military emergency and you will get to see the military shooting people, which is apparently the only additional power the military does not presently have.

I remember a movie once where a man stuffed himself so full of food that he exploded. You are so full of shit that you could join him.

You think that the RTA can't handle their own logistics, that they have been fully deployed (at govt request) since day one, that an organised crew of fit young men will get in the way, or even if they were ASKED to secure the dykes? " The shortage is in engineering equipment and peorsonnel..." Well, who has it? Who's trucks and helicopters does Ms Smiley ride around in, while contributing SFA? Don't you understand that putting conscripts in harms way is what an army does?

Of course, the RTA is a pack of murderous bastards waiting on a SoE so that they can fulfill their blood lust, or is that just red-shirt propaganda?

+1

People fail to realize that the RTA have families too who more than likely are in the rural areas as well. Could you imagine them having to sit around waiting for the government to get their act together clumsily while their family is in trouble? The RTA aren't savages that are waiting on command to topple down anything all the while Taxi drivers are spreading gossip of some conspiracy theory to cause doubt and confusion. I think it's more like they don't want to admit that Abhisit just might be right in calling for SOE to prevent people from blocking evacuation routes with their cars and looting. How many more lives may have been saved had it been called?

Edited October 20, 2011 by ThaiOats

[gregb]

So where is the flooding?

I live in central Bangkok but everything seems normal here.

Earlier today and again tonight it was along the Prapa canal from around Chaeng Wattana north all the way up to Wat Nawong. Some people were hit with as much as a meter of overflow inundating houses and sparking panic. Apparently it has been reduced for the present, but there is very little explanation coming from the FROC as to why this happened and what measures have been taken to ensure it doesn't happen again.

Klong Prapa flows down to the Bangsue Railway station, and from there can go to many places depending on how the gates and the pumps behave. One of these places would be down the klong towards Victory Monument, and from there it could reach several places including Klong San Saeb which goes right down Petchaburi and through some very important parts of the city. Of course, flooding at Victory Monument would bring traffic across a good part of the city to a standstill.

The question is simply one of trust that the authorities have the ability to control the torrent of water. Based on their past efforts, that is not necessarily a good bet.

[nocturn]

So where is the flooding?

I live in central Bangkok but everything seems normal here.

That is what we would all like to know.

If this thing was happening in a modernized country, we would have constantly updated maps of the flood and where it is heading RIGHT NOW.

But here in Thailand, it seems that no one knows anything, except the people who are already swimming.

I get all my flood updates from Thaivisa.com

funny, i get jack shit in the way of information, but TV has given me a very accurate picture of mass expat hysteria.

i live on Klong San Saep (about 150m away in a house suk 11) and i realized a week or more ago the only clear indicator i would receive was wet feet.

the thai flood has become an exercise in social marketing. 3 day old retweets of 5 day old shortened links all contrived to drive us to the same sites again and again.

we all know where the flooding is, we are all waiting to see where it goes. All indicators point to the fact that it will be passing my house.

I have 4 motocycle guys waiting to help me move everything i can upstairs when, and if, i see water. no false hopes and pointless sandbag purchases.

at that point, I will simply bugger off until it is safe to return, and i will be taking my family and dependents with me.

I admit iam being selfish, i admit that my point of view is a luxury i can afford, but it is not the thais i see bleating here or pointing fingers, it is a bunch of smug twunts in condos (apologies to those of you truly affected)

nobody in thailand owes you shit, they are far too busy fending for themselves.

oh, and in answer to balo's question http://iscentralbangkokflooded.com/

Edited October 20, 2011 by nocturn

[JetsetBkk]

So where is the flooding?

I live in central Bangkok but everything seems normal here.

That is what we would all like to know.

If this thing was happening in a modernized country, we would have constantly updated maps of the flood and where it is heading RIGHT NOW.

But here in Thailand, it seems that no one knows anything, except the people who are already swimming.

Do you understand Thai? Watch Thai TV - it's all there.

Or read this thread again and get the info from Google Earth:

[bkkjames]

I have an idea instead of asking where is it flooding now, flip it around to ask where it is not.

I will start.

1. Riverside near saphan krungthep

2.CBD (silom, sathorn)

3. Rama 3

4. Siam, sukhumvit

5. Rama 4

6. Rama 2

[atyclb]

Roman contributions include;

Architectural styles : the Roman were inspired by the Greeks. But they were the ones to use extensively the arch, mosaics and frescoes. They built the largest free-standing dome in the world until the 20th century (the Pantheon in Rome, 43m of diametre, or 1m wider than the Bruneleschi's Duomo in Firenze).

Aqueducts and viaducts merit a separate category. They were the ancestors of modern viaduct (suspension bridges, etc.). Aqueducts would bring drinkable water from hundreds of kilometres away and were designed with just the right inclination so that the water would not run too fast (and erode the stone), nor too slow (and evaporate or become muddy). Combined with canalisations and sewers, they enabled a city like Rome to sustain a population of over 1 million.

The Romans developed spectator sports beyond anything seen until then. The Greeks invented the Olympic Games (incl. stadiums), but the Romans gave us the idea of mass entertainment.

The Roman highways were so straight, plane and resistant that some are still used nowadays (e.g. Via Appia). Many modern European highways follow the old Roman highways, as they used the most direct route to connect cities (and most Roman cities still exist nowadays).

Wine-making was not invented by the Romans, but they planted so many vines throughout the empire, that they created a tradition in France, south-western Germany and Mediteranean countries lasting to this day. The world's greatest wines are direct heirs to Roman wines.

The Roman weren't the first to come up with central or floor heating or hot baths, but they certainly spread its used across the empire. Ironically, it is the Japanese who are fans of hot springs and baths nowadays, not the Europeans. But famous thermal springs still exist in Europe, and were especially popular in the 19th century. Some have Roman origins.

The Roman Senate was supposedly founded by Romulus 2756 years ago. The Republic is "only" 2514 years old, but was one of the oldest such system in the world, and one that deeply influenced modern democratic states. The Greek idea of "democracy" is probably further from the current "democratic" system than was the elitist Roman Republic (in fact, politicians nowadays are almost always the same few oligarchs, like in Roman times).

The Julian Calendar, name after its inventor (Gaius Julius "Caesar"), is almost identical to the modern Western calendar reformed by Pope Gregory 1600 years later, and still used by many national Orthodox churches. It has/had all the current months, which names all have meanings in Latin : January (from "Janus", god of the beginning of times), February (from "Februa" a Roman festival), March (from "Mars", the god of war), April (from "aprire" meaning "open", referring to the blossoming of spring), May (from "Maia", goddess of the fertility), June (from "Juno", goddess of women and marriage, hence the expression "June bride"), July (from Julius Caesar himself), August (from emperor Augustus), September ("7th", as March was the 1st month at the time, and September was thus the 7th month), October ("8th"), etc.

The Romans seem to have been the ones to introduce the system of 3-course meal (starter, main dish, desert), inherited by most Western cultures. Note that in India, China, Japan, etc. there is no such tradition.

quite an amazing tangent - off topic. three course meals... seriously?

Asian civilizations, history, art & architecture stand on their own and owe nothing to Rome or Greece. Angkor Wat, in the ancient Khmer regional capitol of Angkor - a city of a million when London was a village of 50k or less - makes St Peters in Rome look like a gaudy, smallish Las Vegas casino by comparison.

The comment from the post I responded to (that you omitted) are about Nero and his bumbling while Rome was falling as a comparison I guess to YL government currently in the flood situation. This made me think of ancient Roman society compared with modern Thai society and led to the comments you refer to as "amazing tangent-off topic, three course meals... seriously?" I would say ancient Roman society had more significant developments and advancements than current Thai society.

Because the poster I responded to cited Nero, I thought it would be ok to point out Roman contributions and not refer to ancient Khmer society, that by the way, borrowed architecture and civil engineering from India.

BTY, since you mentioned it, what are ancient Khmer Society contributions to the world?

[softgeorge]

Dear PM,

Might I suggest that you order all vessels over 30' out to the bay? The current number of naval ships, cargo ships and barges, both active and birthed are displacing a few billion cubic feet of water. Ordering them all out will drop the water level substantially. Just some friendly advice, so not actually considered working since I have no work permit

Providing advice is also considered consulting so you will need a permit.

"Consulting is providing advice in a particular area of expertise."

Who is that knocking at your door????

So is fraternising with your customers -- friend of mine who owns a bar in Pattaya area was fined 40,000 baht for sitting in his bar and talking to the customers. Immigration told him it was classed as working.......but then, T.I.T.

Not really surprising that so few farangs are to be seen manning the barricades, is it?

yep to risky face heavy fines, jail or kicked out of the country.

[thaibeachlovers]

From the news thread:

Govt: Situation of Prapa Canal under control

Justice Minister Pracha Promnok, head of the Flood Relief Operations Centre, declared Thursday that the situation of Prapa Canal has been under control.

Pracha also allayed public fear that the water for making tab water had been contaminated by floodwaters. He said the quality of tab water would not be affected.

Late Wednesday night, floodwaters penetrated a dyed to enter the Prapa Canal, whose water is use for making editable water, causing the water on the Prapa Canal to overflow its banks at certain spots.

Pracha told a press conference that the level of water on the Prapa Canal has been reduced to prevent it from overflowing the embankments.

Why must the lies continue? I live 300m from a spot where this canal is STILL overflowing, going there to help with sandbags right now. The water level in our village next to the canal is increasing and only the local lake to saving us at the moment. Lying SOB's the lot of them.

Have they cancelled the necessary work permits for working in Thailand? If you're helping with sand bags you're probably going to need a work permit.

I just read in another thread that volunteers DO NOT need a work permit in this situation.

It would have to be a mean immigration official who arrests you for helping out in these times of need. I was filling sand bags in chia nat last month and didn't even think that I would need a permit to help out the family. Lucky I didn't get caught.

I doubt it would be an immigration official, just an ordinary plod. Anyone think that the BIB has changed it's spots just because of some water?

[nocturn]

TANN reported that the govt claimed no work permit was required fro volunteer relief efforts at Don Muang.

[soomak]

It's interesting to read all the criticism here of how 'badly' Thailand has handled the situation with the unspoken implication that that posters 'home' country would have done 'better'.

Think back to Katrina as an example, and the biggest country in the world did no better in a crisis situation.

You are correct. They did far worse. With a much less severe natural event, with much better infrastructure and resources... they failed on an epic scale.

To those who point to the Japanese ... Really? An Earthquake - no looting - no confusion - a meltdown contained - Really? "Bad job Japan" Really? Wow. It took the US months to plug a hole in a broken pipe from a FORESEEABLE event.

Oh, and the UK - Riots and looting in the streets. The police powerless to protect the citizens. Jolly Good Show! NOT!

Perhaps the lesson here is to learn from the average Thai, whose positive, cooperative, "can do" attitude will carry the day. A year from now, the US will be bankrupted, the Euro will be near worthless, Britain a tiny hungry island..

and Thailand? Thriving and Smiling!

Let's meet here a year from now and see (October 21, 2012)

I can bet you 100,000 baht all 4 of your predictions will be wrong.

US - will not be bankrupt

Euro - will be worth the same, +- 10%

Britain - will remain one of the richest countries in the world

Thailand - will remain a poor, underdeveloped, mismanaged country

[balo]

I have an idea instead of asking where is it flooding now, flip it around to ask where it is not.

I will start.

1. Riverside near saphan krungthep

2.CBD (silom, sathorn)

3. Rama 3

4. Siam, sukhumvit

5. Rama 4

6. Rama 2

Thank you for the update.

As long as it stays like this at least I dont have to worry.

[robokop]

Thai Floods Threaten Inner Bangkok

By Daniel Ten Kate and Supunnabul Suwannakij

BANGKOK: -- Thailand’s government warned that floodwaters may reach parts of inner Bangkok, sending stocks and the baht lower as the government struggles to control a deluge that has inundated thousands of factories.

A surge of water caused a 20-meter (65-feet) breach in a levy protecting a canal used for tap water that filters to downtown areas in the city of 9.7 million people, Chareon Passara, governor of the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority, told reporters today. Authorities have since managed to control the overflow, he said.

“The water level has receded this morning,” he said in a televised briefing. The water agency “can provide water with a standard that the World Health Organization certifies.”

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has vowed to protect the capital from floods that forced the closure of thousands of factories to the north that supply parts to companies such as Apple Inc. and Toyota Motor Corp. The nation’s worst flooding in five decades has killed 320 people and left millions scrambling for dry ground.

Thailand’s benchmark SET Index fell 2.4 percent as of 10:01 a.m. local time, the most in Asia. The baht weakened 0.7 percent to 30.91 per dollar. Big C Supercenter Pcl, the operator of hypermarket stores, fell 10 percent, while property developer Land & Houses Pcl dropped 13 percent.

The government earlier today warned residents living near Prapa canal, which runs from northern Bangkok to an area of the city near Victory Monument along the city’s elevated train line, to be vigilant against floodwaters.

‘Bangkok May be Swamped’

“If we can’t pump water out on time, there is a chance Bangkok may be swamped,” Pracha Promnog, head of the national flood center, said in a phone interview with Channel 3 today.

Suvarnabhumi Airport, Thailand’s main international airport, is operating normally and protected with a 3.5-meter barrier to prevent floods, Air Chief Marshal Sumet Phomanee, chairman of airport operator Airports of Thailand Pcl, said today by phone. In the worst-case scenario of the facility being flooded, airlines would be asked to relocate operations to the U-Tapao airport in the eastern province of Chonburi.

The situation is more "worrisome" near northern Bangkok’s Don Mueang airport, which is mostly used for domestic flights and where the government has set up operations to manage the floods, Sumet said. Residents in the area have parked cars on elevated highways and moved belongings to higher floors as waters threaten the district.

Rainfall about 25 percent more than the 30-year average filled upstream dams to their capacity, prompting authorities to release large amounts of water this month down a flood plain the size of Florida. The waters have affected 14,254 factories and businesses in 20 provinces, leaving 664,567 workers at risk of losing jobs, according to the Labor Ministry.

It will take about 40 days for the 12 billion cubic meters of water, enough to cover Connecticut a meter deep, to drain into the Gulf of Thailand, Irrigation Department spokesman Boonsanong Suchatpong said yesterday. The floods have swamped industrial estates north of the capital with as much as three meters of water.

Source: http://www.businessw...ates-canal.html

-- businessweek.com 2011-10-20

Is this the rising waters the people of Thailand were warned about happening due to Global Warming (hoax) or is this part of the droughts that were to be caused by Global Warming.

[sawadeeken]

I have heard a lot of talk in Thailand that this flood is natures way of punishing the people that elected another 'Taksin' (his sister) to power........... Similar to the tsunami that was a punishment for putting Taksin himself in position to steal the country blind a few years ago. I don't know if others have heard this same thing that many are talking about.

Thai's are somewhat superstitious and think there is a reason for everything. And there are times when many 'innocents' suffer for ill-deeds of others. It sure does make me wonder!!!!

[sbk]

There is a pinned dedicated flood report thread, please post your updated info here:

As well as updated Thailand live reports found here:

[softgeorge]

I have heard a lot of talk in Thailand that this flood is natures way of punishing the people that elected another 'Taksin' (his sister) to power........... Similar to the tsunami that was a punishment for putting Taksin himself in position to steal the country blind a few years ago. I don't know if others have heard this same thing that many are talking about.

Thai's are somewhat superstitious and think there is a reason for everything. And there are times when many 'innocents' suffer for ill-deeds of others. It sure does make me wonder!!!!

oh right, so the Lord Budha has his own little circle of friends and the thaskin family is not part of that. Do you still believe in the fairies at the bottom of the garden?

[rogerdee123]

It's interesting to read all the criticism here of how 'badly' Thailand has handled the situation with the unspoken implication that that posters 'home' country would have done 'better'.

Think back to Katrina as an example, and the biggest country in the world did no better in a crisis situation.

You are correct. They did far worse. With a much less severe natural event, with much better infrastructure and resources... they failed on an epic scale.

To those who point to the Japanese ... Really? An Earthquake - no looting - no confusion - a meltdown contained - Really? "Bad job Japan" Really? Wow. It took the US months to plug a hole in a broken pipe from a FORESEEABLE event.

Oh, and the UK - Riots and looting in the streets. The police powerless to protect the citizens. Jolly Good Show! NOT!

Perhaps the lesson here is to learn from the average Thai, whose positive, cooperative, "can do" attitude will carry the day. A year from now, the US will be bankrupted, the Euro will be near worthless, Britain a tiny hungry island..

and Thailand? Thriving and Smiling!

Let's meet here a year from now and see (October 21, 2012)

I can bet you 100,000 baht all 4 of your predictions will be wrong.

US - will not be bankrupt

Euro - will be worth the same, +- 10%

Britain - will remain one of the richest countries in the world

Thailand - will remain a poor, underdeveloped, mismanaged country

A very safe bet ....

And for all those PTP supporters who keep pointing to Katrina in US to justify this current Thai Govt's incompetence, I will continue to point out that the incompetence of that (US) Govt re Katrina was a major contributing factor of the ruling (Bush) party losing the next election. So let's point that out also.

This current Thai Govt deserves all the criticism it's getting re their handling of the disaster, just like the Bush Govt did. And when this is all over, the political landscape will be significantly changed.

And please don't respond with that same old "The floods are an act of God" because we all agree with that and don't blame this Govt for the floods. They are correctly being blamed for the way they are managing the disaster

[rogerdee123]

So where is the flooding?

I live in central Bangkok but everything seems normal here.

"Be patient my son" ... says God ... or the Devil ..... or the Thai spirits attracted to the name "Poo" ....

[rogerdee123]

I have heard a lot of talk in Thailand that this flood is natures way of punishing the people that elected another 'Taksin' (his sister) to power........... Similar to the tsunami that was a punishment for putting Taksin himself in position to steal the country blind a few years ago. I don't know if others have heard this same thing that many are talking about.

Thai's are somewhat superstitious and think there is a reason for everything. And there are times when many 'innocents' suffer for ill-deeds of others. It sure does make me wonder!!!!

oh right, so the Lord Budha has his own little circle of friends and the thaskin family is not part of that. Do you still believe in the fairies at the bottom of the garden?

Well ... what's the difference in saying the floods are caused by God ... or the devil ... or water spirits attracted to the name "poo".

Regarding believing in "fairies", I have seen some mistranslations where "angels" are translated as "fairies". Those not familiar with the Christian religion also believe most westerners believe in spirits and fairies.

Not to be misunderstood, I'm not trying to be cute or make a joke.

But if some people say the floods are an act of God (or the devil) .... why cannot people with other beliefs say that the floods are an act of their spirit world? I may or maynot subscribe to their beliefs but I respect them ... same same they respect mine (although they think I'm naieve ... same same the way you think they are)

I'm hearing some Thai people say the same thing the OP is hearing.

[Buchholz]

mates plz tell me if areas like sukhumvit and pratunam are effected too . are all malls in this area closed? as i will be there in 3 days and dont understand whats going on where??

also is pattaya affected????

plz plz reply

Pattaya is nowhere near of major rivers and not going be affected.

The only problem I foresee would be some degree of difficulty getting to Pattaya, should the area around Suwanaphum flood, although, to be honest, I can't see the water reaching there in the next three days. After that, the only problem would be if the Bang Pakong burst it's banks and cut off motorway access to Chonburi

This evening, it's reported that the Bang Pakong river has overflown its banks.

.

[animatic]

Time to start booking flights from Swampy to U-Tapao and back.