Thailand Live Friday 21 Oct 2011

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Thailand Live Friday 21 October 2011

News, Bits and Tweets

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

For breaking news,national, regional and international news updates on a daily basis only, this thread is closed to commentary so that those who wish to follow the news can find it here...

Commentary is still open for Thailand news in the relevant thread posted in News Clippings.

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Related topic: Thailand Live Thursday 20 Oct 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

Follow this link: http://weather.thaivisa.com/

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Yingluck urges Bangkokians not to panic as canals fill up

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Bangkok opens watergates

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Pathum Thani deluge 'out of control'

The Nation

Floodwalls overwhelmed by massive flows racing towards capital, official says

Admitting that the Pathum Thani flood situation was out of control, the Northern Rangsit Irrigation Office predicted yesterday that Bangkok would be inundated.

Office executive Chuchat Supawatthanangkul said the water flowing through Rapeepat Canal had destroyed several parts of the floodwall along Klong Luang district's Canals 1 to 5. Flowing at 70 cubic metres per second, this water would inundate Klong Luang and Thanyaburi districts, run through the Rangsit Prasertsak Canal and certainly flood Bangkok, he said.

Around noon yesterday, a 3metrelong section of floodwall along the Rangsit Canal at Chulalongkorn sluice gate near Rangsit market collapsed, but officials repaired it as residents were evacuated. As water levels rose, people guarded floodwalls while others strengthened them with sandbags.

At Pathum Thani correctional institution by Canal 5, 500 female inmates were evacuated, but 1,500 male prisoners remained because there was no place to hold them. They tried to pump out flood water seeping into the building, which is protected by a 3metrehigh floodwall.

Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri said his ministry had dispatched officials by boat to help chronic patients, people with disabilities, pregnant women and ailing seniors trapped in flooded homes in Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani.

In Nonthaburi alone, there were 300 patients, but only 100 have been rescued so far. Hospitals have reserved beds to support another 200 chronically ill patients. Others from these groups should call 1669 around the clock for help.

Thammasat University Rangsit Campus executive Prinya Thaewanarumitkul, as director of the temporary shelter, said that even if flood waters there rose to 1.2 metres, brimming the sandbag barrier around the conference hall, the shelter would not be closed. The 1,800 evacuees on the ground floor would be moved to the gymnasium, which could support up to 5,000.

Floodhit Dream World Fun Park will be closed from today to October 31, while the Future Park Rangsit, Big C and HomePro malls in Thanyaburi district are closed indefinitely because of flooding of surrounding roads.

-- The Nation 2011-10-21

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Cars parked on flyovers congest traffic

Suparat Iamtan

Supachai Sinprasert

The Nation

Traffic in Bangkok was congested yesterday morning as the main waterworks canal overflowed in certain spots late on Wednesday and people living nearby moved their vehicles to elevated roads and flyovers.

The canal overflowed because of runoffs from Pathum Thani and flooded Prachachuen Road near Phongphet Intersection, and people decided to park their vehicles on flyovers and intersection bridges on Chaeng Wattana, Ratchayothin, Prachanukul, Wong Sawang, Sai Mai and Ram Inthra Roads as well as on the Kaset Intersection. Some parts of Prachachuen tollgate, Rama VII bridge, Srirat Expressway, Rama VI Expressway, Ram Inthra Expressway near Watcharaphon Intersection and the Thupatemee and Ratchavipha elevated roads were also turned to parking lots. Some of the bridges and elevated roads only had one lane free for motorists.

Due to this, authorities were unable to reach flooded areas or move heavy machinery to deal with the overflowing canal. To ease the congestion, traffic police also had to move vehicles blocking the first two lanes.

Metropolitan Police Bureau deputy commissioner Panu Kerdlarppol, who oversees the trafficcontrol department, said people whose vehicles had to be moved would be fined between Bt500 and Bt1,000, adding that they should contact traffic police and rescue workers if they are unable to find their cars.

Panu said the situation in Bangkok was not at crisis level yet and the police would not allow motorists to violate the law.

Meanwhile, The Mall Ngamwongwan, which is near the waterworks canal, will offer free parking space if the area is flooded, said the manager of The Mall Group, Pilaiwan Hongsakul.

She added that the shopping mall had previously provided parking space for more than 1,000 cars from floodaffected areas in Nonthaburi's Bang Bua Thong and Pak Kret districts. However, she added that they would check whether the people who wanted to park their cars at the shopping centre were really from floodhit areas.

Traffic police have taken measures to deal with possible emergencies, Panu said, adding that police stations had been told to set up trafficmanagement plans and choose roads that would be suitable for evacuation. He has also asked the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority to provide public buses for evacuation operations.

-- The Nation 2011-10-21

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Polluted water to be dealt with: Thailand flood

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Thailand: 17th 'easiest' place for doing business

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OVERDRIVE

Complacent Bangkokians will have to suffer in turn

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Academics see no basis to Army 'water coup' threat

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Free antiviral medicine available

The Nation

Floodaffected HIV/Aids patients can get antiviral medicine at all state hospitals free of charge.

Since this antiviral drug needs to be consumed regularly and many hospitals have been forced to close due to floods, Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri has instructed the National Health Security Office (NHSO) to solve this problem. Henceforth, people living with HIV/Aids can get antiviral medication from any staterun hospital, NHSO chief Dr Winai Sawasdivorn said, adding that patients should bring along old antiviral medicine bottles for convenience in correctly prescribing the medication.

Call 1330 round the clock for details.

Meanwhile, networks for people living with HIV/Aids say that so far nobody has had problems getting the antiviral drug though there have been problems with transport in Ayutthaya and Nakhon Sawan.

Affected patients can call (02) 372 2222 for help.

-- The Nation 2011-10-21

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Chao Phraya levels stable

The Nation

Water levels in lower Chao Phraya River were stable, as floods are subsiding in some areas.

The Water Analysis Centre said yesterday that the river in Nakhon Sawan was moving at the rate of 4,452 cubic metres per second - 72 cubic metres less than the previous day, while in Chai Nat it was stable at 3,610 cubic metres. The river in Sing Buri was at 2,910 cubic metres, Angthong 2,656 cubic metres and Ayutthaya's Bang Sai district 3,755 cubic metres - all slightly less than the previous day. Though water is still being retained in lowlying areas, the situation in Sing Buri, Angthong and Ayutthaya would remain stable and even improve provided there is no heavy rainfall, the centre said.

Meanwhile, the metredeep flood in Nakhon Sawan is getting contaminated, prompting officials to throw in EM balls to disinfect it. Since all flood barriers are fixed and pumps are continuously draining water out of the municipality area, things are expected to be back to normal in three weeks. The area's water level is now going down by 30cm per day.

-- The Nation 2011-10-21

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Travel warning from Taipei; US gives Bt15m

The Nation

Taiwan is urging travellers to postpone their visits to Thailand temporarily, while the United States has given Thailand Bt15 million in aid.

While presiding over a mass wedding in Chiang Mai yesterday, director of Tourism Authority of Thailand for Taipei, Kittika Likhitwasinkul, said Taiwanese authorities had been told that the flooding had not hit all provinces. She said that though some tourists might decide not to visit, so far nobody had cancelled any Loy Krathong tour packages to Sukhothai, Tak and Chiang Mai.

Meanwhile, US Ambassador Kristie Kenney presented Bt15 million to the Flood Relief Operations Centre yesterday, saying that her country would stand by and help Thailand.

-- The Nation 2011-10-21

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Inmates to help build flood barriers around Bangkok

The Nation

Hundreds of prison inmates have been sent out to help exhausted state workers and soldiers build more flood barriers to protect the capital, a senior Corrections Department official said yesterday.

About 500 convicts from prisons in Bangkok and neighbouring provinces were recruited to help strengthen the city's temporary dykes, said Thanis Sriyaphan, the department's deputy directorgeneral.

He added that he would accompany about 300 prisoners today to help build barriers around Suvarnabhumi Airport because there is a severe shortage of manpower for the job.

The official said only prisoners with "good or excellent" records and those who only had a few months left in their prison terms would be allowed out of their cells to do the job. He added that none of the inmates allowed out to help make sandbags had escaped or caused any problems in the past.

Despite the severe flooding near prisons in Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi, the Corrections Department has no plans to evacuate the inmates there, Thanis said, adding that none of the prison compounds were flooded. "Moving a large number of convicts out of prison is a big job."

He said large complexes such as Bang Kwang Central Prison in Nonthaburi, which was severely flooded in 1983, have efficient floodprevention systems.

-- The Nation 2011-10-21

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Runoff from Nava Nakorn rages through waterworks canal

The Nation

Huge volumes of water from Pathum Thani raged into Bangkok via its main waterworks canal yesterday, as pumps worked hard to ensure that the water was pushed out fast enough to protect the capital from flooding.

"The runoff comes from the Nava Nakorn Industrial Estate [in Pathum Thani] and Thammasat University's Rangsit Campus," Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) director Pol General Pracha Promnok said.

He pointed out that the water was flowing through the canal used by the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MEA) to produce tap water into Samsen Canal. "From there we are pumping the water to Chao Phraya River," he said.

Some of the water is also being directed to the Makkasan Pond before it is pushed out to the river.

Sanya Sheenimit, chief of the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority's Department of Drainage and Sewerage, said the situation could be controlled if the runoff did not exceed 90 cubic metres per second.

Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra said the level of water in the waterworks canal was high because the MEA needed it to produce tap water.

However, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra reckoned the big problem of widespread flooding would manifest regardless.

"The runoffs from the North are really huge," she said.

Some Bangkok roads were reportedly flooded yesterday, as locals living along the waterworks canal were seen monitoring the water level all day, though some were also seen fishing.

At a press conference yesterday, MEA Governor Charoen Passara assured the public that the tap water provided by his agency was safe.

"Its quality is still in line with the drinkingwater standards prescribed by the World Health Organisation," he said, adding that the higher level of the canal had not yet affected people living along the canal. However, Charoen voiced concern about the barrier between the Rangsitprayoonsak and waterworks canals, saying, "we have to control the water level there".

-- The Nation 2011-10-21

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Deluge surprises Bang Bua Thong

The Nation

Bang Bua Thong district was caught off guard when the flood surged into Nonthaburi early yesterday, leaving thousands of residents stranded in their homes without enough food and waiting impatiently for assistance.

The municipality is asking for donations of barges to distribute relief supplies. An estimated 1,000 people are believed to be trapped in a government housing estate.

The estate, with 62 affordable flats, is surrounded by chesthigh water. A tenant is calling for help and can be contacted at 0894977615.

The flood water averages 1.5 metres in most areas, which are now accessible only by boats and military trucks.

The escape of flood victims to schools and temples has been disorderly, as evacuation plans were not activated.

A group of residents complained about a Cabinet member visiting less critical areas elsewhere, and officials with provincial authorities busy welcoming the dignitary and failing to take care of them.

The flood arrived in Nonthaburi and inner Bangkok through Prapa Canal at about 3am.

Residents living nearby panicked, driving out to fill their tanks and seek parking spaces on high ground, while shopping for food and supplies until store shelves were bare.

About 300 flood refugees have taken shelter in the Public Health Ministry's compound and many officials are sleeping over in their offices.

Extra measures have been laid on to ensure better safety for the ministry's computer and database centre, and flood barriers have been reinforced around the compound.

-- The Nation 2011-10-21

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471 shelters set up nationwide

The Nation

The Education Ministry has set up 471 temporary shelters nationwide to accommodate up to 138,894 evacuees, deputy spokesperson Piyada Punnakittikasem said yesterday. Of these, 74 of the shelters are located in Bangkok, and provide shelter to 49,100 evacuees.

Four of these centres come under the Office of the Permanent Secretary housing 1,500 evacuees; 37 under the Office of the Private Education Commission with 10,830 evacuees; 301 under the Office of Basic Education Commission housing 97,440 evacuees; and 50 under the Office of the Vocational Education Commission for 11,640 evacuees. The Office of the Higher Education Commission has 15 shelters housing 13,484 evacuees, while the Office of NonFormal and Informal Education has 10 shelters supporting 4,000 evacuees.

Call 1579 or visit www.moe.go.th for more details.

-- The Nation 2011-10-21

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Saensaeb Canal boat continues to cancel service today

Chaengwattana inbound from Muang Thong Thani to Govt Complex sees flooding in front of Tesco; small cars can pass slowly

High levels of flooding at all exit ramps of Don Muang Tollway outbound; only large vehicles advised to proceed

/via@js100radio

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Khlong Prapa canal continues to overflow, flooding the Chang Wattana area by around 20 cm; officials hurrying to build barriers /TAN_Network

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Announcement of Warning on Flooding Situation in Bangkok (21/10/2011)

With reference to the incident of the flooding situation in the Prathumthani Province and the Nonthaburi Province, it is apparent that huge amount of volume of water has passed Khlong Rangsit and flowed into Khlong Prapa entering the areas of the Don Mueang District and the Lak Si District of Bangkok.

Since the continuous flow of this volume of water reveals a trend of increasing and, consequently, affect people residing along the Khlong Prapa, in particular,

1. the sub-districts of Thung Si Khan and Don Mueang of the Don Mueang District

2. the sub-district of Thung Song Hong of Lak Si District.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), therefore, informs this incident of the flooding situation and instructs the concerning residents to monitor the development of the incident, the measures to be implemented by the Metropolitan Waterworks Authority to remedy the shortcomings, and the mitigating measures of BMA as well as those of other relating agencies.

BMA also requests the concerning residents not to be panic and instruct them to relocating valuable belongings and electrical outlets to a higher level. BMA will report, instruct as well as issue a warning to those residents at an appropriate interval range of time so they would be informed of the measures to be taken accordingly.

BMA would like the general public as well as those concerning residents to be assured that the administration will perform the tasks of protecting and rectifying the shortcomings to the utmost of the accountability.

Moreover, BMA has instructed all the units to urgently implement all measures to rectify the incident and to mitigate the damages and also has designated areas for temporary shelters of those affected. The plans for the evacuation and the mitigation have already been devised upon which the public could inquire additional information at www.bangkok.go.th or at the district offices or at the Center of the Protection and Flood Relief Operation of BMA, tel no. 1555.

BMA has also informed the Government Flood Relief Operation Center of the incident and suggested that urgent measures must be implemented.

M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra

Governor of Bangkok

Dated October 20, 2011

Source: http://thailand.prd.go.th/view_around_thailand.php?id=5930

-- thailand.prd.go.th 2011-10-21

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BMA to meet on flood situation at 9 A.M.; press conference scheduled for 10 A.M. /TAN_Network

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Pracha Promnok's house. Oh, he's FROC top guy who's always assuring us about Bkk. http://yfrog.com/h3qenikj

/via@tulsathit /via@Monai_NTV

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FLOODING SITUATION IN BANGKOK: UPDATE (21/10/2011)

M.R. Sukhumbhand Paribatra, the Governor of Bangkok issued the 2nd Announcement of Warning on Flooding Situation in Bangkok to those residents of the sub-districts of Thung Si Khan and Don Mueang of Don Mueang District and the sub-district of Thung Song Hong of Lak Si District designated as the areas to be maintained with vigilance.

They were instructed to follow the development of the incident very closely since the areas are being affected and inundated caused by the leakages along the retention wall of the Khlong Prapa. They were also instructed to relocate their valuable belongings and electrical outlets to a higher level. BMA had already prepared temporary accommodation for those affected. The evacuation plan could be consulted at www.bangkok.go.th or at telephone no. 1555.

BMA had designated six schools of Don Mueang District as the areas of providing temporary accommodation, namely, Wat Don Mueang School, Pracha U-Thit School, Wat Weruwararam School, Bamrungrawiwan Withaya School, Phahol Yothin School and Prem Pracha School, all of which can provide accommodation of 2,700 people; whereas Lak Si District is comprising of Karn Kheha Tha Sai School, Kheha Thung Song Hong Withaya School, Kheha Thung Song Hong 2 School, Thung Song Hong School, Bang Khen (Wai Salee Anusorn School and Wat Lak Si School, all of which can provide accommodation of 3,050 people.

Source: http://thailand.prd.go.th/view_around_thailand.php?id=5931

-- thailand.prd.go.th 2011-10-21

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Universities' new semester days: Chula Nov 7, Abac Oct 31, Kaset Nov 14, Bkk U Nov 28. /via @tulsathit

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Navy Sends in 300 Marines to Rescue Bang Bua Thong Residents

This morning, the Navy has sent in 300 marines and 100 boats to rescue residents still stuck in their homes in the Bang Bua Thong area. The area has been completely flooded since yesterday afternoon. 10,000 flood victims were rescued yesterday. Last night, an additional 300 were brought to safety.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-21

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PM reiterates she will not issue emergency decree to handle flooding; asks BMA to cooperate with gov't without involving partisan politics /TAN_Network

Sports stadiums in 28 provinces damaged. Hardest hit is Loei's provincial stadium, which is now 2.2 m-deep pool. -matichon /via@tulsathit:

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Chaengwattana Sees 20 Cm of Water as Khlong Prapa Overflows

At least 20 centimeters of water is being seen in front of the Civil Service Center on Chaengwattana Road this morning as the water level in the Khlong Prapa (waterworks canal) rises. Officials have been unable to reduce the amount of water flowing in from Rangsit via the Khlong Prapa.

Song Pra Pa Road is also experiencing rising water levels. Around 400 people in the Tung Srikun area of Don Muang District are being evacuated.

The government came to an agreement with locals in Pak Kred to build a barrier shielding Don Muang residents from the flood. Officials were successful in persuading Pak Kred residents to bare the brunt of flooding from the Khlong Prapa as a 500 meter barrier is built to protect Bangkok’s Don Muang District from further flooding.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-21

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Stranded foreigners, California Villa condo near Bangkradee estate need help. Contact 081-855-5822 /via@tulsathit

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AFP: Thai PM tells Bangkok to move belongings to safety

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Thai stock index opens on Friday at 907.26, down 1.84 points /MCOT