Thailand Live Sunday 23 Oct 2011

[Lite Beer]

Local financial institutions may need to boost reserves in line w/ rise in NPLS following widespread flooding/Via@Biz_TheNation

Army chief General Prayuth Chan-ocha warned residents in Ladkrabang,Bangchan industrial estates to prepare for evacuation/Via@Biz_TheNation

More cracks developed in temporary floodwalls along Klong Prapa (waterworks canal),flooding many Bangkok,Nonthaburi communities/Via@Biz_TheNation

27 communities along Chao Phraya river outside flood walls told to evacuate as huge water mass arrived W.Bangkok/Via@Biz_TheNation

Water level at Pakkret,Klong Prapa canal,Chaeng Wattana Rd is stable early Sun./Via@Biz_TheNation

[Lite Beer]

Bangkok warned sudden flood at 4PM today. People near the dykes in 27 areas should prepare to evacuate (via @SpringNews_TV )/Via@Porpich

FROC uses 25 boats to flow water away at BigC Ratchaburana pier. Water level lower than dyke edge by 1.8 m. (Via @Rawangpai/Via@Porpich

9.17AM Water level in Hok Wa canal gets lower than dyke edge by 50 cm. (via @Rawangpai ) bit.ly/qu4xrb/Via@Porpich

[Lite Beer]

Bangkok starts flooding, city residents prepare

At least seven districts of Bangkok were partially submerged up to 30 centimeters or more early Sunday.

Authorities said flooding in the capital could last several weeks.

Some roads in the northern Don Muang district were waterways with small boats nearly as common as motor vehicles. Water was as high as a car tyre. The domestic airport was still operational.

A few kilometers southwest in the direction of the city centre heavy equipment was being used to reinforce barriers to a canal that intersected the major Chang Wattana Road.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra warned people on Saturday that parts of Bangkok would flood and residents should expect the water to stay four to six weeks.

Expressways would remain open and the government would protect the city’s drinking water system, power plants and important buildings, she said.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said water had risen more than 2 metres along the Chao Phraya River that flows through the densely populated heart of Bangkok. He warned residents to brace for flooding.

-- The Nation 2011-10-23

[Lite Beer]

Thaiflood separated itself from FROC

BANGKOK, 23 October 2011 (NNT)-The founder of the Thaiflood website, Pramet Minsiri, yesterday announced the separation of the site from the government run Flood Relief Operation Center, citing the conflict in their stances.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/507200-thaiflood-separated-itself-from-froc/page__view__findpost__p__4786721

[Lite Beer]

Narcotics delivery bust in Bangkok as all attentions are on flooding

BANGKOK, 23 October 2011 (NNT)-Provincial Police Region 1 yesterday had apprehended a man for possession of narcotics. The man in questions, Yingchai Puttipongarcha, was caught at Tesco Lotus in Bangphli District, Samut Prakan Province, after the police received a lead on a possible narcotics delivery.

Authorities spotted Mr. YingChai’s pickup truck suspiciously parking near the venue, they then asked to search the vehicle and found 40,000 pills of methamphetamine in a bag laid near the driver.

Mr. Yingchai loaded his truck with vegetables to divert the attention from the police, but fortunately they thoroughly searched the vehicle and found the drugs.

Authorities also said that the suspect used the flood to his advantage, seizing the opportunity to deliver the goods while authorities were busy with flood relief operations. He is now waiting for further legal proceedings.

-- NNT 2011-10-23

[Lite Beer]

Phuket Opinion: Patong Police volunteers need careful scrutiny to protect tourists

Hopefully, volunteers for the Patong Police will not be sourced from groups hostile to Phuket or its tourists.

PHUKET: The safety of tourists visiting Phuket is always a key concern among local officials, and nowhere on the island is the issue more important than in Patong, which has the island’s highest density of visitors and hotels.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/507201-phuket-opinion-patong-police-volunteers-need-careful-scrutiny-to-protect-tourists/page__view__findpost__p__4786749

[Lite Beer]

Reminder: Chao Phraya communities to face another high tide at 4 PM. Residents living in the 27 communities advised to leave their homes./TAN_Network

[Lite Beer]

Situation at Bang Krabua Intersection under control

Police, troops and civilians have built a flood embankment and put the situation at the Bang Krabua Intersection under control.

The police, troops and local residents managed to contain the flooding at 10:30 pm.

Part of the area on the bank of Chao Phay was inundated after the a flood wall of the Rajinee Bon School breached with a one-metre-wide hole.

-- The Nation 2011-10-23

[Lite Beer]

Bangkok bolsters river defences in flood battle

by Daniel Rook

BANGKOK, October 23, 2011 (AFP) - Thai troops on Sunday reinforced vulnerable barriers along Bangkok's Chao Phraya river after a sudden rise in the water level set back efforts to contain the worst floods in decades

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has warned it could take six weeks for the deadly flooding to recede, telling residents in the capital to prepare for possible inundation up to one metre (three feet) deep.

Three months of heavy monsoon rains have killed more than 350 people in Thailand and damaged the homes and livelihoods of nine million people.

More than 110,000 evacuees have been forced to seek refuge in 1,743 shelters from waters that the government has described as unstoppable.

The authorities are battling the slowly advancing floods on several fronts, with parts of the northern outskirts of Bangkok already under waist-deep water.

Now the level of the Chao Phraya river is causing "great concern", the government said in a statement.

Saturday's overflow caused flooding in relatively small areas of five central Bangkok districts -- including near the political heartland -- prompting a race to fix the leaks before the next high tide on Sunday evening.

The Bangkok authorities urged about 3,000 people living on the banks of the Chao Phraya on the river side of the flood barriers to move to emergency shelters.

In the north of the city, meanwhile, the floods were closing in Bangkok's second-largest airport, Don Mueang, part of which has been turned into a refuge for thousands of evacuees and is protected by walls of sandbags.

More than 150 schools in the capital have also been prepared as emergency shelters.

The government is desperately trying to drain billions of cubic metres of water from upcountry out to sea through rivers and canals in and around the city by opening all sluice gates.

Another major test is expected between October 28 and 30 when seasonal high tides flow up the Chao Phraya, meeting run-off water from the north.

More than 1,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in the northern Bangkok districts of Don Mueang and Lak Si because of overflow from canals in the area.

"But the situation seems to be under control as we see less water overflowing and the military is working to stop the leaks," Don Mueang district chief Phumpat Damrongkiatisak told AFP.

Supermarkets in the city have been busy with people stocking up on food and bottled water, while many motorists have moved their cars to the upper levels of multi-storey carparks or left them on bridges and elevated roads.

Tens of thousands of soldiers and police have been mobilised to maintain order and the military has airlifted about a dozen critically ill patients from Bangkok to the eastern province of Chonburi as a precaution.

Aid organisations were also gearing up to assist the city's residents, said Maureen Birmingham, World Health Organization representative to Thailand.

"Bangkok faces the same needs as for other flooded areas but in a far higher quantity," she said, noting the capital was highly dependent on supply chains that might be interrupted.

UN agencies "are aware that there may be a big need for survival commodities."

The government's flood relief centre said that floodwater in Pathum Thani province, just north of Bangkok, had been found to contain toxic chemicals and pollution experts were investigating the cause.

The disaster has dealt a heavy blow to Thailand's export-dependent economy, with hundreds of factories outside the capital flooded.

Most of Thailand's top tourist destinations as well as the capital's main airport have so far been unaffected.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-10-23

[Lite Beer]

FROC is able to contain water level at Prapa Canal at 20.00 (OCT22). Doing best to drain water from Vibhavadi Rangsit /TAN_Network

FROC: Natural to have water pills from canals to HOK WA Canal, flood barriers in E and N BKK in good condition, protect inner BKK./TAN_Network

FROC: Don't be alarmed by rising lvl in Chao Phraya, spillover will be drained in appx 1hr.Runoffs from canals also natural. /TAN_Network

FROC:Must reduce water from HOK WA through MinBuri/NongJok, will be drained by various means thru SamWa,MinBuri,Lad Krabang,Bang Pli, BangBo/TAN_Network

FROC: Stresses importance to allow water from Rangsit to be drained/save HOK WA Canal and use smaller canals to drain runoffs etc SanSaeb/TAN_Network

FROC:Mentioned measures will help lower/maintain water tht will hit SaiMai = BKK has best chance of surviving flood /TAN_Network

[Lite Beer]

Express boats will stop service tomorrow, buses will change the routes by reason of flood (via @SpringNews_TV ) /Via@Porpich

[Lite Beer]

FROC:Drain water from HOK WA thru smaller canals southwards. SaenSab, Prawet Burirom, Som Rong, Chai Talay Canals./TAN_Network

FROC: BMA agrees water must be allowed to pass through BKK in manageable level, not to flood nearby communities. /TAN_Network

FROC:Drainage more difficult during high tide at end of week esp in Puttamonton,Thonburi, NakhonPathom.Water lvl will rise with high/TAN_Network

FROC:Affected communities will see lvl of water rise/lower with sea levels. Drainage efforts will b expedite when sea lvl goes down./TAN_Network

FROC: Flood situation expected to improve during first week of Nov. Rehabilitation efforts will begin, starting from N./TAN_Network

[Lite Beer]

11am- Police,troops&civilians have built flood embankment and put situation at Bang Kra Bue Intersection under control.#thaifllodEng #nation/Via@tucky_nt

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11.22am- FROC- PM ordered to drain water fr Klong Rangsit to HOK WA, Min Buri, Lad Krabang, Bang Phli, Bang Bor and the sea TR @Neaw_NBC/Via@tucky_nt

"@tukky_nt: 11.30am: FROC- PM is considering to designate "special restricted area" to allow officials to work smoothly TR @jin_nation"/Via@ASEAN_NEWSROOM

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FROC- PM Yingluck will stay at FROC at Don Mueang all day to tackle the flood crisis:Pongsapat/Via@tucky_nt

[Lite Beer]

PM concerned over flooding in Bangkok's Don Mueang, Laksi.

BANGKOK, Oct 23 – Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is concerned over the water situation in Don Mueang and Laksi, saying repairs of flood barrier at Klong Prapa is expected to be completed on Sunday.

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/507226-pm-concerned-over-flooding-in-bangkoks-don-mueang-laksi/page__view__findpost__p__4786940

[Lite Beer]

12:18 PM: NBT reporting live from front of Don Muang airport. Vipawadee Rd. now flooded, about 20 cm deep, but passable./Via@sternos

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Water from Rangsit floods Vibhavadi Rd in front of National Memorial Monument 50-80 cm deep, small vehicles unable to pass /MCOT

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12.18 Found 2 crocodiles (2 metre long) near Phrapimol canal's bridge, Ban Kruay - Sai Noi intersection (via @fm91trafficpro ) /Via@porpich

[Lite Beer]

Flood-affected Bang Bua Thong needs more assistance

BANGKOK, 23 October 2011 (NNT) –According to local sources, Bang Bua Thong district is currently facing a worsened crisis. A large number of local evacuees had fled the area due to the vast amount of excessive floodwater penetrating the region which may become more dangerous for the public.

The disaster had caused distraught families to immediately evacuate the area immediately leaving the congested and damaged places for military officials to attend to. GMC vehicles and other large caterpillar vehicles with lifesaving equipment are now in the area for continuous rescue operations. However, certain areas are still inaccessible, including Klong Chek and Klong Lamli.

Moreover, reports suggests that certain areas are congested with polluted water and had even discovered an invasion of a 4 meter crocodile. Luckily, no injuries or animal attacks were reported. In the disaster, 8 had lost their lives from electrocution and drowning.

The district is in a state of despair and needs more assistance and boats to deal with the disastrous floodwater.

-- NNT 2011-10-23

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ABAC poll shows Thai majority is worried about political conflicts during flooding

BANGKOK, 23 October 2011 (NNT) – ABAC poll showed that the majority of Thai citizens is worried about political conflicts during the plight of flooding while they demand cooperation from all sides to solve the problem.

According to Director of the ABAC Poll Research Center Dr Noppol Kanika, the survey titled 'Lessons learned from the deluge crisis in Thailand' among 1,305 samples of Bangkok residents during 15-22 October 2011. Results show that the majority of 66.3% have learned how to adapt themselves to handle flood situation, 67.2% see the need to spend more money during the situatiom and 55.9% have to spend much more money during the post-flood time.

Projecting on the income in 3 months ahead, 53.8% of the respondents are convinced that their incomes will remain the same while 31.4% believe that their incomes will decrease. As for the most concerned matter among the public, 83.6% cited the political conflicts during the flooding while 81.1% wanted to see the cooperation between Pheu Thai Party and Bangkok Governor.

Moreover, the survey found that 48.9% of the respondents estimated that the flooding crisis would be resolved within one month. 95.5% of them said that the post-flood rehabilitation steps would range from renovation of houses, city and community clean-up, workplace, career support to infrastructure development.

-- NNT 2011-10-23

[george]

Many complains that FROC discriminated supports to only #RedShirt people. some say that parts of donated material was sent to #RedShirt for supporting only RedShirt people. Unfaired for donators. #thaifloodeng /via @issarar

[Lite Beer]

Raining around Erawan Museum, Samutprakarn. Not heavy but big drops. Cc @b8tv/Via@Aim_NT

[Lite Beer]

Suan Dusit Poll: Political conflict makes flood operation difficult

Follow this link:http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/507232-suan-dusit-poll-political-conflict-makes-flood-operation-difficult/page__view__findpost__p__4787073

[Lite Beer]

High tide for Bangkok today is at 2:31PM / 3.18 pm/Via@sternos

[Lite Beer]

FROC Announcement: Oct 23, 11.30 AM

UPDATE : 23 October 2011

The FROC urged riverbank communities not to panic when Chao Phraya River rises during the high sea tide next week. The center urges the public to exercise caution and double check the facts when they hear information or opinions about the floods.

The Flood Relief Operations Center held an announcement at approximately 11.30AM on OCT 23. Various representatives, including Pramote Maiklad, former irrigation chief who worked closely with HM the King, attempted to reassure the public that the current measures employed to manage the flow of water are proving to be effective so far. Efforts are in place to siphon off the large volume of water from Rangsit and Nava Nakorn areas towards the eastern part of the country. A large volume of flood water and runoffs are being drained from Wang Noi, Bang Pa In and Ayutthaya Province towards Pa Sak River. He stated that the water level in the areas is continuously declining but it will take time.

Pramote pointed out the necessity to allow the flow of flood water and runoffs to be drained through major canals in and around the capital including the Chao Phraya River. He stressed that it's imperative that the authorities must relieve the pressure on Hok Wa Canal by allowing it to move to various canals in Bangkok, such as San Saeb Canal, while saying the flood barriers in the eastern and northern parts of Bangkok remain in a good condition and should be able to protect inner Bangkok from widespread flooding. Pramote also urged Bangkok residents living along the riverbanks not be alarmed by the rising water level, saying the spillover water will be drained in approximately 1 hour. High sea tide is expected towards the end of next week and today at 4 PM. The high tide will make it more difficult for the authorities to drain water into the sea. Areas such as Puttamonthon, Thonburi and Nakorn Pathom may see rising water level. However, the FROC assured drainage efforts in affected areas will be expedited as soon as the high tide period is over.

Pramote, now working closely with Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, says he's working closely with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to give Bangkok the best chance of surviving the flood crisis. The BMA is now in full accord with the FROC and will allow flood gates to be open to help drain the approaching water while keeping effects on communities at the minimum. Despite the closer cooperation between the FROC, BMA and Irrigation Department, flood prevention and drainage efforts have been slow in some area. The FROC revealed key areas may be declared 'special prohibited zones' to facilitate emergency flood relief efforts.

The FROC said it expected the flooding situation to improve during the first week of November when rehabilitation efforts are expected to begin starting from the North of Thailand.

Meanwhile, the center reiterated that the situation at Prapa (waterworks) Canal has returned to normal. The water level will return to its normal level today while drainage efforts continued in nearby communities that were flooded when excess water spilled from the Canal late last week. Drainage efforts are also being expedited to drain flood water from Vibhavadi Rangsit Road to allow motorists to pass through.

The FROC ended its announcement by urging the public to review any information they received about the flood carefully. It has advised the public to double check the information with relevant state agencies and use their own judgement to review any opinions from any experts.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-23

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RT @tonravee: Plodprasop: flood water heading to areas around Mahidol Salaya, residents should remain cautious. 12.52pm/Via@Tulip_Oum

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TR @wannasiri_: 1.20 pm: More water getting into Lard Prao canal now. Ppl along both banks must be fully alert. RT @yoware/Via@Tulsathit

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Crisis in Bang Bua Thong, almost over-head flooded in some area. 40% of people already evacuated (via @nnanews ) /Visa@porpich

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23/10 8am-4pm Volunteers needed at Puranawat Temple for filling sandbags.ow.ly/1z4AGK via @SiamArsa/Via@tucky_nt