Thailand Live Wednesday 26 Oct 2011

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Taweewattana District Issues Evacuation Order

The director of the Taweewattana District office has asked residents living along the Mahasawat Canal to evacuate their homes as water levels increase at least 15 centimeters, swelling its banks. Locals are advised to leave their homes by tomorrow as the situation worsens.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-26

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(11.47) Floodwater from Don Muang flowing along Paholyodhin has reached Yingcharoen Market. #Ch3 /via@veen_NT

RT @ASEAN_NEWSROOM: "@veen_NT:

(11.47) Outbound traffic on Vibhavadi-Rangist from Laksi to Don Muang is closed. #Ch3 TR @jin_nation"

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11.52 Arun Amarin intersection now flooded by 50cm. (via @manageronlines ) #/via@Porpich:

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Real Estate Sector Estimated to Lose 18 Billion Baht due to Floods

A real estate agency has estimated that severe flooding in the outskirts of Bangkok could cost property developers more than 18 billion baht.

Sophon Pornchokchai, chairman of the Agency for Real Estate Affairs, said floods have affected 311 new residential projects with units still available for sale worth a total of 98 billion baht.

Some 226 others, with a combined value of 76 billion baht, are at risk of flooding.

He added that developers may have to refund down payments for approximately 20 percent of the units already sold to buyers who have decided to opt out because of flooding.

Sophon estimates that the initial damage could amount to 18 billion baht and could be higher if the situation worsens.

Considering the current damage and that downtown Bangkok has so far been spared, the property market and financial institutions are likely to remain intact.

However, if Bangkok's central business district is flooded, all economic activities could be brought to a standstill, which would shrink economic output and reduce consumer buying power as well as the demand for homes.

Sophon expects the property sector will head into a decline due to lack of buyers, and real estate stocks will also inevitably be affected.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-26

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Airport Link (City Line) train leaves every 20 minutes during Oct 27-31 as they are considered public hols. /via @ARL_SRTET /RT @veen_NT:

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Many Provinces Welcome Flood Evacuees

Several temporary shelters for flood victims in Bangkok became swamped with high levels of water, driving provinces in the central region to prepare other evacuation centers.

Approximately 900 flood evacuees from Don Muang and Rangsit relief centers were transferred to the shelter at the Chonburi Sports School's gymnasium in Chonburi Province, while officials assisted and accommodated evacuees for their safety.

Medical units from the Chonburi Hospital were assigned at the center to provide health services and health examination for flood victims.

An evacuee from Bang Bua Thong District, Nonthaburi Province, Kularb Puakpong said she has been evacuated four times already, and believes this shelter at Sports School's gymnasium in Chon Buri Province will be safe.

She is looking forward to reside here until the situation returns to normal.

She went on to say her house in Bang Bua Thong District has been flooded since October 20, forcing her to evacuate to Thammasat University Rangsit Campus that later became swamped with water.

Then, she had to relocate to the Bang Yai Evacuation Center that didn't last long against the flood, causing her to finally reside at the Chonburi Sports School gymansium.

Other than the Chonburi Sports School's gymnasium, flood relief centers have been set up in various areas and are able to accommodate more than 8,000 evacuees.

Alternative flood relief centers include the Wachirawut boy scout camp in Sriracha District, the 14th Military Circle, Kao Noi Police Academy, Utapao Temple, the Skills Development Department's Office, and the Khao Kheow Zoo.

Governor of Kanchanaburi Province Chaiyawat Limwantha visited officials who helped flood evacuees from Singburi Province at the Kanchanaburi Administration Center.

He said the Kanchanaburi Administration Office cooperated with the Flood Relief Operation Center to establish a shelter for flood victims by receiving help from the Kanchanaburi Military Circle.

The shelter could accommodate 500 evacuees; many evacuees said they have been evacuated for three times already.

Meanwhile, the governor of Ratchaburi Province has prepared and organized a temporary shelter for flood victims at the Prasangkatikan Foundation in Pak Tor District.

Six floors and facilities were cleaned up to welcome the evacuees and the shelter could accommodate more than 2,000 evacuees.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-26

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Two killed, 40 wounded, Yala bombings

YALA, Oct 26 - Two persons were killed and over 40 others were wounded in a dozen bombings yesterday in the southern border province of Yala.

It was the seventh anniversary of the Tak Bak incident of 2004, marked by 12 bombings in Yala municipality.

The first bombing took place at the market around 7pm, killing two persons, followed by other bombings almost simultaneously in nearby areas including the Park View Hotel parking lot, restaurants, near the Rama Café nightclub, an education office, a stationery shop, and a school.

Yala governor Kritsada Boonrach said government personnel defused explosive devices at about ten locations.

The incidents took place on Tuesday (Oct 25), which marked the seventh anniversary of the Tak Bai incident in the neighbouring province of Narathiwat, in which at least 78 people suffocated to death in detention while they were packed in military trucks carrying them from Tak Bai police station in Narathiwat to a military camp in Pattani.

They were detained after the officials dispersed the crowd gathering at Tak Bai police station on Oct 25, 2004 protesting the arrests of six presumed insurgents, who were detained at the police station. (MCOT Online news)

-- TNA 2011-10-26

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Floods Force Evacuation of Stray Dogs at Suan Kaew Temple

Over 400 stray dogs have been evacuated from Suan Kaew (สวนแก้ว) Temple in Nonthaburi Province, as floodwater there continues to rise. The temple's abbot estimates the damage at about 200 million baht.

Almost all areas of Suan Kaew (สวนแก้ว) Temple in Nonthaburi's Bang Yai (บางใหญ่) District are now submerged.

A parsonage, where temple abbot Phra Phayom Kalayano (พระพยอม กัลยาโณ) usually gives sermons to Buddhists who come to make merit, has flooded as well.

Phra Phayom said the floodwater surrounding the temple gushed through the temple's embankment and rapidly flooded the temple on Saturday night. The water came from all directions, submerging the temple's many properties, including a 130-rai orchard.

The revered abbot noted that there are many types of fruits there, such as durian, rose apple, bamboo, and Marian plum, which create an income of at least 10,000 baht for the temple per day. He estimated the total damage to be as much as 200 million baht.

He added that the temple usually has income from the donations and the sale of fruits, at around 200,000 baht per day, and it has now become zero.

Phra Phayom further said that the temple cares for nearly a thousand dogs and spends about five million baht on their food every month. Two other branches of the temple, in Ayutthaya and Buri Ram provinces, have been inundated as well. Phra Phayom expects it could take more than ten years to rehabilitate the temples.

Over 400 stray dogs have been evacuated from the temple to Suan Kaew Foundation in Kanchanaburi's Sai Yok (ไทรโยค) District.

The remaining dogs at the temple will be evacuated soon.

The evacuated dogs have been put in cages to prevent them from disturbing residents. They will be brought back to the temple once the flood situation eases.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-26

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Prisoners relocated from Bang Kwang (Bangkok Post)

Loads of drinking water rolling into Central Chidlom if you need any http://ow.ly/i/jUtt /RT @RichardBarrow: RT @beejoir:

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PM More Than 50% Confident Inner Bkk Will Be Protected

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra reiterates yet again that she will be relocating the Flood Relief Operations Center despite flood water as high as 30 centimeters is seen on the runway of the Don Mueang Airport.

She also went on to say that she is more than 50 percent sure that officials will be able to protect inner Bangkok should the three main flood barriers on the outskirts of the capital hold. Yingluck said that if the barriers collapse, Bangkok will be flooding for no more than four weeks.

Prime Minister Yingluck expressed confidence that the government will be able to keep Suvarnabhumi Airport safe from flooding. However, she did not elaborate as to the specific measures being used.

The prime minister went on to reveal that the shortage of consumer products and essentials will last no longer than seven days as related agencies are implementing drastic measures to make sure demands are met. One method being used is a special waiver of import taxes so various products can be brought in from neighboring countries.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-26

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AFP: Bangkok floods could last weeks: Thai PM

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Khlong Prem Central Prison has about 20,000 prisoners & is in a flood-risk area just south of Don Muang /via@RichardBarrow

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Police Arrests Suspect Disguised as Highway Police Captain

Police officers arrested a suspect disguised as a highway police captain working to accommodate flood victims at a temporary shelter.

Marketing Officer Smith Supo was arrested at the Ratchamangkala Stadium gate 1 by police officers from Huamak police-station for posing as a highway police captain.

The officers suspected he was planning to commit a robbery.

Police confiscated many items such as highway captain police uniforms, radio telecommunication, a truck with a siren, documents of flood relief foundations from the National Police office, and volunteer and medical officer identification cards as evidence for the case.

Deputy Director of Huamak police-station, Police Lieutenant Colonel Rangsan Yingyongdumrongsakul said the suspect posed as a police inspector from the highway number 8 and a student lieutenant class 52.

Volunteers believed the suspect was a real police officer.

Rangsan said yesterday that a group of suspects posed as officials and stole relief supplies.

However, Smith gave excuses that he wanted to be a policeman and did not plan to commit any crimes. He said he just wanted to help the evacuees.

Officials have charged the suspect with posing as a police officer and possessing a radio telecommunicator without permission.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-26

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BTS To continue working so long as waters don't reach 1.5m according to Channel 3. /via@Bangkokhooker

This flood crisis' characteristics include smelly waters that come up from sewers. The smell does compound misery of victims. /via@tulsathit

If smelly waters are coming up from sewers, isn't there a risk of a cholera epidemic?>Yes, govt must pay attention to this. /via @bountonw

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Navy Chief Vows To Protect Royal Palace From Flood

The navy chief has asked army branches and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to protect the royal palace and Siriraj Hospital from inundation.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reports that 26 provinces have been hit from the flood, 373 people have been killed, and 2 locals are missing.

Army Chief, Admiral Surasak Roonrengrom, gave an interview to INN news that the navy has been working with army branches and the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to protect Siriraj Hospital, particularly the Chalermprakiet Building, and the royal palace from the flood.

Sandbags and brick walls have been installed as high as 3 meters. Soldiers are monitoring the situation around the clock.

Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department Director Wiboon Sahuanpong claimed that 26 provinces, 162 districts, 1,297 sub-districts, and 9,937 villages were hit by flooding.

At least 800,000 households and 2 million people have suffered from the crisis.

There have been 373 deaths and 2 people are missing.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-26

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Flood Warning Issued for 13 Districts along Chao Phraya River

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Bkk to Meet with Private Sector on Floods

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration is scheduled to meet with representatives from the private business sector tomorrow to provide them with accurate updates on the floods and brainstorm on best possible measures to protect the business sector.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paripatra says the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has been tasked by the Flood Relief Operations Center to act as a central body to coordinate with the private sector. Tomorrow the governor will meet with representatives from both local and foreign chambers of commerce, the Federation of Thai Industries, Thai Hotels Association, department stores, real estate operators and large retailers. The BMA will provide these representatives of the business sector with accurate updates about the flood crisis in Thailand.

The Bangkok governor will also brainstorm with the business sector on how to best cope with the flood crisis and precautionary measures for businesses to protect themselves against the floods.

Sukhumbhand issued several warnings that high sea tide is expected from 2 PM - 4 PM today. Coupled with flood runoffs from the North and the rising sea tide, the water level in Chao Phraya is expected to rise by 20-30cm, pushing the water level in Chao Phraya to 2.6M. Current the flood barriers along the river is 2.5M high.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-26

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Difficulty to divert water in eastern Bangkok

The Nation

The Royal Irrigation Department's Hydrology and Water Management Office on Wednesday outlined the difficulty to drain run-off via eastern Bangkok.

Even though the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has the drainage capacity for 10 million cubic meters per day, it is operating under the capacity due to the closure of two watergates at Nong Chok Canal and Prawet Burirom Canal/

The two watergates are under the jurisdiction of the RID. The two canals are Bangkok's eastern floodways to reroute run-off from the North to drain into the sea via Bang Pakong River.

In its rebuttal, the RID said the two watergates could not be opened because the water level in Bang Pakong River is presently higher than the two canals.

If the watergates are lifted, water would flow back into the capital, exacerbating the inundation. What the RID can do under the circumstances is to pump the water from the Bangkok side across the two watergates and into Bang Pakong River.

In northern Bangkok, the RID has mobilised 12 pumps to divert water from Bang Kanak Canal and Nakhon Nuang Khet Canal to Bang Pakong River.

As of Wednesay, the Nong Chok pumping station has to suspend work and shut down Khlong Luang Pheng watergate in order to prevent the overflowing water from Chachoensao to spill into Prawet Burirom Canal which can lead to the inundation at Lad Krabang Industrial Estate and Suvarnabhumi Airport.

-- The Nation 2011-10-26

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Thawi Watthana district orders residents along Mahasawat canal to urgently evacuate as water level rises fast /MCOT

Bang Kwang Central Prison, in response to flooding, moves 617 capital punishment inmates to Khao Bin Central Prison in Ratchaburi /MCOT

To expressway emergency parkers, check yr cars regularly. We're hearing stories ab petty theft (wheelmax popular target)&hit and run cases. /via@tulsathit

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Motorists asked to avoid 92 flood-affected roads in 20 provinces

BANGKOK, 26, October 2011 (NNT) – The Department of Highways (DOH) requested people to keep out of 92 roads in 20 provinces which are affected by flooding.

Wanchai Pakluk, director-general of the Department of Highways, revealed that due to the flooding situation, some traffic lanes were inundated and eventually unusable for normal traffic flow. Thus, motorists are encouraged to avoid the flood-affected roads and use other routes suggested by officials from the Department of Highways, the Department of Rural Roads, the police and the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation for the public's convenience and safety.

According to the DOH statistics recorded on 26 October 2011, 92 routes in 20 provinces have been inundated, affecting 105 road sections, 30 of which are still passable and 75 impassable. People can check traffic conditions and ask for assistance via the DOH's hotline 1586 and highway police call center 1193 around the clock.

-- NNT 2011-10-26

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Central Bangna open until 8pm today, its Tops supermarket will open until 9pm.~@Centralnews #thaifloodeng @Tulip_Oum

US sailors help @ThaiRedCross unload supplies. http://twitter.com/KristieKenney/status/129077178460667904/photo/1 /via@KristieKenney

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A woman I know had to leave her dog on 2nd floor balcony when she was rescued from Bang Bua Thong home. Boat full&they allowed only humans.

That dog has lived off neighbours' throw-in foods for a few days now.

/via@tulsathit

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World Film Festival of Bangkok scheduled Nov 4-13 @ Paragon & Esplanade cineplexes POSTPONED to Jan 20-27 /via@annnation_nt

1:04pm TaweeWattana district chief is asking the residents along ChaoPraya to start evacuate.~@Neaw_NBC RT @Tulip_Oum:

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State railways evacuate flood victims to nearby provinces

BANGKOK, Oct 26 – The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) is ready to evacuate about 1,600 flood victims currently sheltering in Bangkok to new temporary shelters in nearby provinces, SRT Governor Yuthana Thapcharoen said on Wednesday.

Being ordered by the government’s Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) to provide rail service transferring flood evacuees to other provinces, Mr Yuthana said the railroad would move 500 evacuees to Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan, 400 to Saraburi and 700 others to Lop Buri.

The service is set to begin this afternoon by evacuating 400 flood victims from Bangkok’s Hua Mak rail station to the central province of Lop Buri.

To provide necessities for the evacuees, 442 railway stations nationwide will serve as temporary centres for food and relief supply donation, the governor said.

Following shortage of necessities during flooding, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Wednesday said the government now seeks to open more consumer product distribution centres in provinces nearby Bangkok to solve the problem.

The prime minister said the centres may be set up in Chon Buri, Ratchaburi and Nakhon Ratchasima as government centres for distribution of essential items as the Don Mueang Airport stores are still insufficient to respond the need of consumers.

The new distribution centres will facilitate the transport of necessities into the central region which has been severely affected by flooding, and also to Bangkok, according to Ms Yingluck.

The premier pledged that problems regarding shortage of essential items should be resolved within one week.

Meanwhile, despite Thailand's worst flooding in decades, Alexander Feldman, president of the US-ASEAN Business Council, said after meeting with the Thai premier Wednesday that American businessmen are still confident in investing in the kingdom.

-- TNA 2011-10-26

Mr Feldman also expressed condolences to the Thai people over the loss and damages caused by the current flooding. (MCOT online news)

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Bus Carrying Russian Tourists Crashes On Patong Hill; Many Injured

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People now evacuating in deep nonthaburi despite flood water for 1 month. SOE would have meant forced evacs earlier but acc to. But acc to mil source Govt didn't want to appear not in control of flooding sitch/via@anasuya

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Bang Kwang Central Prison, in response to flooding, moves 617 inmates./MCOT

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Thai stocks midday Wed. flat at 941.43, down 1.12 pts,0.12%/via@Biz_TheNation

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Energy Min assures there won't be a jet fuel shortage, wont be affected by situation at Thai Petroleum Pipeline in Lum Lukka/TAN_Network

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STOPPAGE TIME

Days of living nervously: My flood diary

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13.44 Vehicles should avoid Phrapokklao Bridge and Saphan Puth toward eastern side due to a big traffic congestion

13.49 Water from Premprachakorn canal overflows Chaengwatta Soi 5 behind the Nonthaburi Civic Center Station, cars passable

13.45 Water overflowing Suan Somdej intersection, Tiwanon Rd.

Viphavadi-Rangsit and Phaholyothin roads flooded, impassable for small vehicles. /The Nation