Thailand Live Friday 21 Oct 2011

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PM shuns emergency decree imposition for fear that it will hurt foreign confidence; urges all parties to unit, fight against floods /MCOT

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Floods Rise to 2 Meters in Bangkadee Industrial Estate

Water has risen to around two meters in the Bangkadee Industrial Estate. The development was able to fend off water for a couple of days before the flood breached its walls yesterday evening. 44 factories stretch over 1,200 rai of land. The highest level of flooding within its walls is 2.8 meters.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-21

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BMA Pleads Gov’t To Reduce Water in Khlong Prapa Before Further Flooding

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said in a press conference that if the water level in the Khlong Prapa Canal is not brought under control, water will flow into the Prem Prachakorn Canal. If water in the Prem Prachakorn Canal flows higher than 1.5 meters, then Viphavadee Rangsit Road will see critical flooding almost immediately.

He is, therefore, pleading with the government to bring the water level at the Khlong Prapa Canal to normal as soon as possible. Lak Si District will also see less water if the situation does not escalate.

As for the reinforcement of the Hok Wa Canal, construction should be completed today. The reinforcement stretches six kilometers and can handle around three meters of water above average sea level.

The BMA also postponed the opening of the new semester at 102 schools in the seven watch list districts indefinitely.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-21

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Chaengwattana Road in front of Government Complex flooded

The Nation

The section of Chaengwattana Road in front of the Government Complex has been inundated, a senior police officer said Friday.

Pol Lt Col Bodin Phasuk, deputy chief of Thung Song Hong police station, said floodwaters continued to overflow the banks of Prapal Canal to inundate the road.

Bodin said the level of water was about 20 to 40 centimetres high.

-- The Nation 2011-10-21

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PM Yingluck declines to declare SOE for fear of affecting foreign investors confidence

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Democrat Dismisses Jatuporn Claims That Floods Are Politically Motivated

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Bangkok governor: Water level in Klong Prapa rises, posing flood threat for Laksi, Don Mueang /MCOT

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PM utilizes Article 31 of Disaster Prevention n Mitigation Bill, ordering all gov't agencies to answer to FROC /TAN_Network

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Arrived at Suvarnabumhi Airport from Pattaya. No problems no worrying sights.

/via@RichardBarrow /via@JosefYossarian

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PM Utilizes Disaster Bill; Orders all Agencies to Answer to FROC

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has enacted Article 31 of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Bill. The order forces all government agencies to answer to the Flood Relief Operations Command.

Under the bill, all government agencies must answer to orders given by the prime minister or acting deputy prime minister. In this case, they must after to FROC, headed by Pracha Promnok.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-21

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Authorities Trying to Restrict Floodwaters Coming to Bangkok

The Director of the Flood Relief Operations Center has gone out to inspect the flood situation in Ayutthaya Province to find a way to slow the floodwater approaching Bangkok.

Flood Relief Operations Center Director Police General Pracha Phromnok, along with Public Health Minister Wittaya Buranasiri and Ayutthaya Provincial Governor Wittaya Phewphong, inspected the flood situation at the mouth of Khao Mao and Sakhoo canals, and the bridge crossing a railway line on Asia Highway in Ayutthaya Province.

The areas received a large amount of water from the Pa Sak and Lopburi rivers, which flow through the eastern part of the province to Pathum Thani and Bangkok.

Public Health Minister Wittaya insisted that barriers will be built only to restrict the flow of floodwater to minimize the impact on Pathum Thani and eastern Bangkok.

He said officials will place gabions on Asia Highway and parts of the road that are linked to bridges to obstruct the water flow.

The work is expected to be completed in seven days.

Wittaya believes the barrier will be able to restrict 70 percent of flood runoff.

Meanwhile, General Pracha reassured Ayutthaya residents that the barrier is not meant to completely contain flood waters, but only to slow them down before they enter Pathum Thani and Bangkok.

He also thanked Ayutthaya residents for their understanding and help to keep flood damage from extending, and vowed to do all he can to relieve their suffering.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-21

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THAI extends Bangkok-Phitsanulok special flights to Oct 31

The Nation

Thai Airways International extends its special flights on route Bangkok-Phitsanulok route until the end of this month to help people during flood crisis.

The national carrier has operated the flights to provide access to people who need to travel to the lower northern and upper central regions which are difficult to access by road.

Initially the operation is scheduled to end this Sunday.

The special fights to and from Phitsanulok will also help transport donations and medical supplies from the Government’s Flood Relief Operation Centre (FROC) and blood supplies through Thai Red Cross society to flood victims.

The airfare for one-way trip is at Bt1,250.

Flights will operate using Boeing 737-400 aircraft with 149 seats and departs from Suvarnabhumi Airport at 11.20am and arrives in Phitsanulok at 12.10pm, and flight TG8707 departs from Phitsanulok at 12.50pm and arrives at Suvarnabhumi at 13.40pm.

For more information, call the THAI Contact Centre at (02) 356 1111 or log on to www.ThaiAirways.com

-- The Nation 2011-10-21

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Thai Industrial Confidence Index hits 26-month low in Sept, falling to 90.7 from 102.5 in Aug, as floods severely affect industrial, agricultural sectors /MCOT

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Singapore Foreign Minister Orders Singaporeans in Bangkok To Evacuate

All Singaporeans in Bangkok were ordered to evacuate to higher ground or areas that will be safe from the ravaging floods, as Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra declared to open floodgates in Bangkok to drain water out to sea.

The Singaporean foreign minister reported that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or MFA has ordered all Singaporeans in Bangkok to evacuate to areas that will not be affected by the inundation after Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra declared that floodgates in Bangkok will be opened in order to drain the water into the sea, which will cause flooding in eastern Bangkok.

The Singaporean foreign minister has also advised Singaporeans to avoid traveling to Thailand until the situation returns to normal.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-21

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Flood Relief Center Will Be Set For Nonthaburi Local Residents

The Flood Relief Operation Center spokesperson, the Royal Thai police, and three army branches will organize a flood-relief center for Bang Bua Tong residents in Nonthaburi Province under the prime minister's order.

Flood Relief Operation Center spokesperson, Wim Rungwattanajinda, along with representatives from Royal Thai Army, the Navy Army, and the Air Force announced that the Bang Bua Thong District in Nonthaburi Province became one of the most flood-stricken areas in the country.

The flood relief center will be set up to rescue the flood victims in nearby areas.

Officials urged local residents to prepare evacuation.

50 army boats will be dispatched to pick up the locals by tonight. Meanwhile, the local residents were asked to keep monitoring the situation closely.

The officers also asked the volunteers to provide boats to the army.

The locals can call the hotline number 1131 for help.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-21

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PTT Set Up 300 Million Baht Budget to Assist Flooded Victims

PTT has set a budget of 300 million baht for 11 flood-relief projects to assist flood victims when the situation returns to normal.

PTT Executive Pailin Chuchotthaworn said PTT has prepared to launch a 300-million-baht budget for 11 flood-relief projects to assist flood victims when the flooding ends.

The projects include road reconstruction, engine tune ups, mobile medical units, 84 million baht in donations for victims, and the EM Ball project to provide clean water for residents.

PTT has provided more than 100,000 relief bags, as well as 1,000 boats, petrol, instant food, and a number of basic necessities for victims suffering from the flooding.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-21

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PPL who need help in Chonlada housing estate. @jjetrin will make a round near Soi 29 - go & meet him there" NOW.

/via@veen_NT

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Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Dept: flood death toll rises to 342, with 2 people missing; Floods still prevail in 28 provinces

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Flood Protection With Sandbags It is a science - not applied in Thailand

Full story:

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Disaster warning issued for Bangkok

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Disaster carpark issue at Bangkok Hospital, don't bring your car, if you come here today /via@tukky_nt: /via@Dany_k /via@gloomyshoes

Yingluck is desperately trying to centralise the power from all the govt agencies under her authority to deal with the flood crisis. So far the chain of command has got stuck in bureaucratic and political gridlocks. /via@ThanongK

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Chaeng Wattana is dry, immigration is open and everything working as usual /via@RichardBarrow /via@thfunke

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British Consulate in Pattaya reduced opening hours

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Thai composite stocks index (SET) at midday Friday was rather flat at 910.08, up 0.98 pt /The Nation

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Pathum Thani municipality now closed off by flooding on all sides, including Thivanont Rd and Highway 307 via @js100radio

Impact Muang Thong Thani opens space for 10,000 cars; residents must move their cars by Oct 28

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World's largest rice exporter, Thailand could lose 6mn ton of unmilled rice from floods,Office of Agricultural Economics said

Bridgestone's Thai plants output disrupted by materials shortages,floods hampered workers' commute to work /Nation

Worst Thai floods in 50 years affected Apple Inc, Toyota's supply chain

ASTV reporting that locals living near canals in Sai Mai were warned at 1:30 PM by broadcast trucks to evacuate /TANN

CNN Breaking News: Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra asks all Bangkok residents to move their belongings to higher ground.

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Those who want to park cars at Impact (indoor parking) pls bring ID copy & car registration book. Cars allowed to park til Oct 28 #js100radio #thaiflooodEng

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ThaiPBS reporting that Sai Mai police are telling residents to move belongings to higher ground; district on high alert tonight.

Some success in Thai flood relief, but Bangkok tense (Reuters) http://reut.rs/qecOdZ #ThaiFloodEng

FROC orders all gov't agencies and schools to avail space for flood victims to park their cars w/o any charge

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Major Cineplex Chaengwattana has closed its doors as flood water rises

@bangkokgovernor is on the ground at the flood barrier on Sai Mai 43 to check the situation

PHOTO: Water seen seeping through onto Vipavadee Rangsit Road http://pic.twitter.com/ZJeB8O6q

Cost of Thai floods greater than political unrest (CNN Business Blog) http://bit.ly/rnMSRa #ThaiFloodEng

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Army Chief urged govt to review evacuation plan for BKK. "We should specify where should be evacuated or need help." #thaifloodEng @nnanews

@KristieKenney: It's Friday, three day weekend coming and folks are worried about floods. Staff @USEmbassyBKK have early release. Time to be w families