Thailand Live Wednesday 26 Oct 2011

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BREAKING: All 50 districts in Bangkok to brace for flood tonight

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FROC becomes quiet as flood victims flee to other centers

BANGKOK, 26 October 2011 (NNT) - The Flood Relief Operations Center (FROC) becomes quiet because most of the flood victims at Don Mueang Airport have moved to other evacuation centers after the flood level in front of the airport rose and expanded in scale.

The atmosphere in the evacuation center at the International Building, Terminal 2 and the FROC at Don Mueang Airport is relatively quiet as the flood victims are gradually moving out, using buses provided by the government, to other evacuation centers. Currently, the water level in both inbound and outbound lanes of Vibhavadi Rangsit Road is between 50 cm - 1 metre deep, making small vehicles unable to use the section in front of Don Mueang Temple. Officials used stone mix and sandbags to strengthen the dyke in front of the airport.

Apart from some areas of the runway being flooded, certain car parks inside Don Mueang Airport have already been affected as well, forcing removals of small vehicles left by owners whose houses are flooded.

-- NNT 2011-10-26

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Flood drainage to complete in December

The Nation

The Royal Irrigation Department on Wednesday projected a timetable for drainage taking 30 to 45 days to solve the flood in Bangkok and the Central Region.

"The water situation will return to normalcy by mid December," RID spokesman Boonsanong Suchartpong said on Wednesday.

The projection was based on the drainage capacity via eastern Bangkok, western Bangkok and the Chao Phraya River.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has the capacity to pump 26.18 million cubic meters of floodwater per day to drain into the sea via western Bangkok. The capacity is at 37.78 million cubic meters per day via eastern Bangkok.

The Chao Phraya River emties about 300 million cubic meters per day by pumps and natural water flow.

The combined capacity for drainage stands at 400 to 420 million cubic meters per day, outpacing incoming water flow.

Given no additional storms and no more tun-off from the North, the inundation in the Central Region would take up to 45 days to solve.

-- The Nation 2011-10-26

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The U.S Embassy will be closed on October 26 and 27 of this week, however American Citizen Services will remain open during normal business hours.

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Suvarnabhumi Airport remains open, protected by 23.5KM long x 37M wide x 3.5M high barrier above avg sea lvl and able to drain 1M CBM/day. /TANN

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5:56pm Ankle deep water in front of Grand Palace from high tide RT @simonroughneen:

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TR @suthichai: RT @ThaiShortNews: Over 90% of Don Muang runway has been flooded./via@tulsathit

RT @ThaiPBS Thai Red Cross's National Blood Center opens daily, 8.30am to 3.30pm call 02 2564300, 02 2639600-99 ext 1101/via@annation_nt

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6:10pm RT @hexa_pm: BTS Saphan Taksin by the river is starting to flood. But still walkable/via@RichardBarrow

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NokAir: free refund for cancelled tickets and free modifications to travel dates. Based at Suvarnabhumi until water recedes/TAN_Network

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Gossip from local market this morning near Ekamai Soi 30 was that soldiers were there warning that Ekamai would be wet. No details/via@terryfrd

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Suvarnabhumi Airport Remains Open as at Oct 26, 18.00

UPDATE : 26 October 2011

The spokesperson for Suvarnabhumi Airport reiterates that the airport remains open and is well protected from the approaching flood water. For more information, travelers can call 02-132-1888.

Suvarnabhumi Airport Spokesperson Wilaiwan Natwilai says Suvarnabhumi Airport is well protected from the flood. A soil dyke that has been erected along the 23.5 meters long parameter of the airport is as wide as 37 meter and its height stands at 3.5 meters above the average sea level.

There are also 2 drainage stations at the airport, a total of 8 pumps, with the capacity to drain 12 CBM/second or 1 million cubic meters of water per day. Airport officials are monitoring the flood situation 24 hours a day and are in close cooperation with the Irrigation Department and other flood-related agencies.

Flights operated as normal during Oct 1-24, 2011 with as many as 130,000 average number of travelers passing through the airport each day. The airport is asking travelers to use public transport to get to Suvarnabhumi Airport after a large number of the public have parked their cars at the airport's parking space to protect them from floods.

For more information please call 02-132-1888.

Meanwhile, the Tourism Authority of Thailand believes that in the best case scenario, where the flood crisis is resolved by the end of October, Thailand would lost approximately 1 million Thai tourists, resulting in 1.1 billion baht in revenue. That's not including the loss of 70,000 foreign travelers and the subsequent loss of 2.7 billion baht in revenue.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-26

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Bangkok residents leave capital in droves.Almost all domestic flights full esp to Chiang Mai, Phuket and Nakhon Si Thammarat./TAN_Network

TV host @kalamare will set up a charity kitchen at Wat Uam Ong in Lard pla duk temple, Bang Bua Thong tomorrow./via@veen_nt

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This much-shared satellite photo can beat all horror movie posters. http://t.co/oQ4Yj6sf via @suthichai/via@tulsathit

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Bangkok governor to hold a press conference at approximately 20.00 tonight. /TAN_Network

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Bangkok Residents Leave Bangkok ahead of Critical Weekend

UPDATE : 26 October 2011

Masses of city dwellers flock to Suvarnabhumi Airport, leaving the city ahead of the weekend when the flood crisis is expected to reach a critical level. Almost all domestic flights heading to Chiang Mai, Phuket and Nakhon Si Thammarat were fully booked.

A large number of Bangkok residents are set to leave Bangkok to spend the extended weekend with relatives or their families away from Bangkok. The Cabinet declared earlier this week Oct 27-31 as an emergency holidays to allow Bangkok residents and state offices to prepare for the what many believe could be the beginning of the flood crisis for the inner areas of Bangkok.

Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paripatra warned all 50 districts in Bangkok to be on standby tonight, expecting a large volume of water to breach the inner areas of the city.

Meanwhile, the Suvarnabhumi Airport spokesperson said the airport is well protected from the floods with 3.5 meter (above avg sea level) wall erected around the airport. In an emergency, flights could be directed to Utapao Airport or other regional airports.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-26

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Nearly 10,000 factories damaged by flood

BANGKOK, Oct 26 – Thailand’s worst flooding in memory has caused damage to almost 10,000 factories, forcing some 660,000 employees temporarily into unemployment, according to Deputy Industry Minister Suphap Kleekachai.

Mr Suphap said that a total of 9,859 factories have closed – both inside and outside the industrial estates affected by the worst flooding -- while the disaster has affected at least short-term and perhaps longer-term unemployment for 660,000 workers who were employed by the factories.

Seven industrial estates in Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani -- Saha Rattana Nakhon, Bang Pa-in, Rojana, Hi-Tech, Factory Land, Nava Nakorn and Bangkadi -- were earlier forced to close due to the deep floodwater.

Lat Krabang Industrial Estate in Lat Krabang district and Bangchan Industrial Estate in Min Buri district are on 'high guard' to fight the deep floodwater expected to flow into the areas in the next few days.

He said 838 factories in the seven industrial parks and estates in Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani were hit by the flood and that 382,693 workers were unemployed which caused direct damage of nearly Bt500 billion, while indirect damage could add another Bt300 billion to the losses.

Mr Suphap said the ministry would set up a working group to inspect all factories to evaluate the damage incurred. Details and exact costs of the collective damages wil be submitted to the government for its consideration of extending assistance.

The ministry will also form a panel to rehabilitate the factories, and contact persons will be appointed to coordinate between the public and private sectors to revive the businesses as quickly as possible.

The deputy minister said the government would try its best to protect the remaining industrial estates. The managers of all the industrial estates are prepared to give maximum protection to their properties. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-10-26

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Permanent sec if Transportation ministry has proposed DonMueng tollway to exempt the fees. (via fm96.5) /viaTulip_Aum

A Cabinet member blocked the irrigation's plan to release the water from the dam in September."I shall assume the sole responsibility," he said./via@ThanongK

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People urged not to block traffic

The Metropolitan Police Wednesday urged people to stop leaving their cars parked at the mouths of expressways, intersection overpasses and Uturn bridges because it would cause traffic jams, block the way for ambulances and even result in accidents.

Deputy Commissioner Maj-General Panu Kerdlarpphol said people were allowed to park their cars in some spots, but they should not block the flow of traffic. Saying it would be better to park at friends' homes in non-flooded areas rather than on the streets, he said people who had no other choice should keep checking their cars and put their contact information on the windshield for officials to contact in case of emergency.

He added that anybody caught stealing or tearing down flood embankments would face harsh punishment, such as up to five years in jail and Bt10,000 in fines for one count, and up to seven years imprisonment and between Bt20,000-Bt24,000 in fine for two counts.

-- The Nation 2011-10-26

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Seoul sends over instant noodles, drinking water

In addition to the aid pouring in, South Korea sent across 9 tonnes of instant noodles and drinking water Wednesday.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra also accepted donations - both in the form of cash and relief supplies - yesterday from other countries and business organisations.

South Korean ambassador presented the noodles and drinking water to Yingluck, while the Indian charge d'affaires handed her Bt6 million, Nikon Corp handed over Bt12 million, the Royal Thai Honorary Consulate Association presented Bt200,000, the ThaiIndian Chamber of Commerce gave Bt1 million, the Yunnan Association of Thailand presented Bt288,000, PTT Group presented 100,000 cans of food and Land Department chief handed over 1 million litres of biofermented water. Actor Pete Thongchua donated Bt900,000 that he raised in a concert, while the Thaicom Foundation presented 20 floating toilets and 1,000 emergency toilet sets through Thaksin's three children

-- The Nation 2011-10-26

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SCB assures all of business continuity

The Nation

Siam Commercial Bank today assures all that precautionary measures are in place to ensure smooth business activities despite higher water level in Bangkok.

President Kannikar Chalitaporn said in a statement that an IT backup system is in palce while a sandbag wall is ready to protect the headquarter on Ratchayonthin Road. The headquarter is 2.7 metres above road level.

Affected employees are allowed to leave, plus allowances. Shelters are prepared for affected employees and those who need to man the headquarter.

The bank also maintains the policy to keep all branches open, until the water is in critical level, to minimise impacts on clients. Meanwhile, more cash is reserved for the ATM network, which cover over 400 in Bangkok

-- The Nation 2011-10-26

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BKK governor issues alert for Lardprao and Wangthonglarng districts and asks Irrigation Dept to open all floodgates in Pravej and Nongchok/TAN_Network

Boromratchachonnani outbound traffic congested; inbound flooded so small vehicles should avoid/TAN_Network

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Heavy traffic in front of Central Bang Na (7.15pm)/via@ASEAN_NEWSROOM

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Empty shelves at Central Chidlom in Bangkok #ThaiFloodEng http://t.co/NK7CtNf7/via@SarahMicaele

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Chatuchak Weekend Market will not open this weekend. Expect more closures in flood risk areas soon/via@Richardbarrow

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Je Leng plaza _ shopping paradise for imported goods esp cosmetics _ is facing floods./via@tulsathit

7:20pm water on Vipawadi-Rungsit rd., Rungsit run-off reach the bridge over Wat Luksi.~@Neaw_NBC/viaTulip_Aum

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Donmuang Tollway exempts fee tomorrow from 6am onwards via @js100radio/TAN_Network

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Thai Defence Minister affirms strong Thai-US ties

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/508125-thai-defence-minister-affirms-strong-thai-us-ties/page__view__findpost__p__4797235

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Central Pinklao will remain closed tomorrow, 27 Oct, due to flooding /via @js100radio/via@RichardBarrow

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Sign on the bare shelves at Central Chitlom. Particularly cute is the last word in the English version/@in0nymous

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RT @ThaiEmbDC: Donations made through the Royal Thai Embassy in Washington DC now exceed $50,000, will go to the Thai Red Cross. #ThaiFlood/via@veen_nt