Thailand Live Friday 28 Oct 2011

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Thailand Live Friday 28 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 27 Oct 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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Thai PM Yingluck denies she is shedding tears

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Death toll reaches 373; two more killed in Nonthaburi

THE NATION

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department (DPMD) reported yesterday that floods continue to ravage 26 provinces, affecting 730,348 people, while the death toll is 373 with two persons missing.

Meanwhile, two people were electrocuted to death while they were wading through flood waters to get relief provisions in Nonthanburi's Bang Bua Thong district.

In Kalasin, governor Wiroj Jiwarangsan yesterday ordered the evacuation of another five villages on the banks of the Chi River in Kamalasai and Khong Chai districts, because another 57 million cubic metres was expected to hit them later yesterday. Officials couldn't repair the cracks in a floodwall due to strong currents. Highway 214 (Kalasin-Roi Et) was also closed.

In Nonthaburi, the inner city area was inundated yesterday morning, while Sanambin Nam Road from Wat Tamnak Tai-Wat Chaengsiri-samphan, to Phra Nangklao Hospital intersection is under 20-30 centimetres of water. Flats housing Royal Thai Army Quartermaster Department officials were under 1.5 metres of water, while the flooding on Sanambin Nam Road posed a threat to Nonthaburi's two main arteries; Rattanathibet and Tiwanon roads.

In Lop Buri, water in the Chai Nat-Pasak Canal had dropped by 1.5m, while the floods in Ban Mi, Tha Wung and Muang districts were seen to be receding by 30-40cm, though roads remained impassable for small vehicles. Kittisak Supapong, kamnan of Ban Mi district's Tambon Ban Chee, said all flood-affected households there had received relief items at least 30 times, and urged those who had not received any help to step forward so authorities could investigate the matter.

The Royal Irrigation Department said yesterday the Chao Phraya in Nakhon Sawan was moving at 3,850 cubic metres/second, and in Chai Nat at 3,330 cubic metres/second.

-- The Nation 2011-10-28

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Residents along waterways blocking operations

Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

The lack of understanding among people living near sluice gates is causing a real problem because they are stopping authorities from opening the gates out of fear their residences will be submerged, the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry said.

Khanapot Wandee from the Water Resources Department said his team has studied areas along the canals in Bangkok and nearby provinces over the past few days and discovered that people living along waterways did not want the Royal Irrigation Department and Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to open the water gates.

The ministry is sending teams to help talk to people living near canals 8 to 11 in the upper area of Bangkok as well as those living along the Khlong Sam Wa canal.

"We hope they will have a better understanding of the situation and let us open the water gates," he said yesterday, adding that if the water gates could not be opened, then the plans to drain water in the east of Bangkok would be delayed.

The teams also found that each water gate in the canal was just 5 metres wide, which is not enough to drain water. In addition, he said, land in the capital was not on the same level, so that presented an obstacle.

"We are only able to drain 1.2 million cubic metres per day via canals in Bangkok and Samut Prakan," he said.

So far, the Flood Relief Operation Centre has been directing waters through canals 1 to 13 and Khlong Hok Wa.

-- The Nation 2011-10-28

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Home repair costs may hit Bt131.6 billion

Somluck Srimalee

The Nation

Homeowners in flooded communities will have to shoulder renovation costs of Bt1,000-Bt4,000 per square metre, depending on the materials used.

The number of affected homes is projected to reach 329,569 units in Greater Bangkok, which would bring the total renovation bill to Bt32.9 billion-Bt131.6 billion.

The average home occupies 100 square metres of space.

The cost for any furniture and home appliances is extra.

Vichai Kongsriong, managing director of Four Develop House Co, said yesterday that this budget is based on the cost to repaint a residence, at Bt350-Bt400 per square meter, and to repair the floor with wood at Bt1,500-Bt2,000 or with ceramic tile at Bt700-Bt1,000.

Renovation work cannot start until 20-40 days after the flood because the structure has to dry out first.

Sopon Pornchokchai, president of the Agency for Real Estate Affairs, said the cost of developing residential projects now would also increase.

The agency estimates residential damage at Bt74 billion, or 25 per cent of the value of flooded properties. It reported that 329,569 houses are flooded and 166,225 are at risk.

The cost per square meter to build a single family home averages Bt11,400 and drops to Bt8,600 for a townhouse and Bt7,200 for a commercial building.

Residential projects that have already started construction in flooded locations total 311 with 34,980 units but many have been damaged.

-- The Nation 2011-10-28

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Plan mulled to cut channel through Bangkok roads

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Exodus from Bangkok in full swing

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Armed forces, ministries, BMA rally to save city

The Nation

The military will deploy another 50,000 troops, 1,000 vehicles and 1,000 boats to fight off floodwaters from Bangkok, the Defence Ministry said yesterday.

The First Army Area will defend Bangkok, and the Navy Siriraj Hospital, where His Majesty the King is receiving treatment, and Thawee Watthana district,

The Air Force will be in charge of Don Mueang airport compound and the government Flood Relief Operations Centre, said ministry spokesman Colonel Thanathip Sawangsaeng.

There are around 10,000 troops already deployed throughout the country, he said. Military reservists may be mobilised as extra helpers to assist regular troops when needed.

In already-flooded areas, the function of mass communications, traffic, tapwater and electricity must be protected.

Evacuation, when and where needed, will be conducted by the Defence Ministry under the Science Ministry’s supervision. Shelters are provided by Bangkok Metropolitan Administration at more than 100 of its schools in 23 districts.

Restoration and repatriation of evacuees will be conducted by the military, the BMA and relevant agencies.

The plans were yesterday worked out by the military council and would be likely approved by the prime minister before implementation, Thanathip said.

-- The Nation 2011-10-28

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OVERDRIVE

Pheu Thai and red shirts do nothing to help their own

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Sukhumbhand finds predictions of Bangkok flooding 'inconceivable'

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Passport offices open today, Monday

The Nation

The Foreign Ministry will operate normal passport and consular services in Bangkok and other provinces during the five-day special holiday which began yesterday.

The holidays apply to 21 provinces, including Bangkok, which have been hard hit by the flooding.

The ministry said its Consular Affairs Department on Chaeng Wattana road as well as its Bang Na branch and those in other provinces would be open as normal today and Monday between 8am and 4.30pm.

-- The Nation 2011-10-28

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Yellow tap water safe: waterworks

The Nation

The floods have affected tap-water production to an extent, Metropolitan Waterworks Authority (MEA) assistant governor Vikrom Suwanchomphu said yesterday.

He said tap water piped to people living along the Mahasawas Canal was now yellow in colour, but did not contain any germs or toxins.

"But you may boil the water before drinking it if you wish," Vikrom said.

He added that his agency was urgently fixing the problem.

-- The Nation 2011-10-28

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New spokesman named for FROC

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Bangladesh sending US$1m in relief

The Nation

Bangladesh has pledged US$1million (Bt30.5 million) in humanitarian relief assistance for flood victims in Thailand.

The pledge has been made as a gesture of solidarity with flood-affected Thais and in view of the longstanding friendship with Thailand.

Prime minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina has instructed his government officials to send the relief materials immediately to Thailand.

-- The Nation 2011-10-28

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Seriously-ill patients moved

THE NATION

First batch of critical patients arrive in Kanchanaburi along with Siriraj team

In the face of the looming floods, critically-ill patients in Bangkok are being transferred to medical facilities in the provinces to ensure their continued treatment.

Some seriously-ill patients from Siriraj Hospital have already arrived at the Polpayuhasena and Makarak hospitals in Kanchanaburi.

"A medical team from Siriraj Hospital has come to take care of the patients as well," Kanchanaburi public-health chief Dr Paisal Dunkhum said yesterday, adding that the province's Tha Muang Hospital had also opened its doors to patients from Bangkok.

Public Health Minister Witthaya Buranasiri said it was necessary that critical patients be moved to medical facilities in flood-free provinces.

"They may need oxygen anytime. Electricity and water services must be available at all times for their treatment," he pointed out.

He said hospitals in the provinces had been told make at least 376 beds available, adding that once serious patients had been moved, Bangkok hospitals could then focus on patients in non-serious condition.

Some hospitals in Bangkok, including Bhumibol Hospital, are already submerged. Bhumibol Hospital has suspended its service until October 31 and will not be providing treatment beyond normal working hours until November 7.

However, the hospital still has many in-patients - several of them in critical condition - and the institution's executives yesterday requested a supply of diesel for its generators so life-support devices can continue running in case of power blackouts.

"We are also worried that the flood might also damage medical devices needed for treating patients," the hospital's director Dr Chuphan Charnsamorn said.

Witthaya added that more than 100 mobile medical units were dispatched to flood-hit provinces every day, with at least 10 of them operating in Bangkok. The ministry's permanent secretary Dr Paijit Warachit said so far 735,495 patient had been treated in these mobile medical units, 107,101 for mental problems.

"We found that 6,214 of the patients were depressed and up to 878 suicidal," he said.

-- The Nation 2011-10-28

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DTAC may clarify its position to court in foreign-ownership row

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Closure and service adjustments

Suchat Sritama

The Nation

Major attractions in Bangkok including the Chatuchak Weekend Market and Chao Phraya River cruises as well as a few hospitals will close or limit services until Monday because of the worsening flood.

About 8,800 shop owners in Chatuchak were told yesterday to close and move out to safe places.

Management decided to shut the market until Monday as water is expected to reach the area today.

Chatuchak is one of the most popular shopping destinations for international visitors as well as locals.

Most Chao Phraya boat operators have halted trips, particularly dinner cruises, because of the high water levels, but a few groups are keeping their dinner bookings.

The Peninsula Bangkok, which is on the riverbank, said the rising water had not hit the hotel. However, it was strategically built on higher ground than many of the nearby buildings precisely to avoid the possibility of flooding.

Like all other hotels, The Peninsula says it takes the safety of its guests, staff and property extremely seriously and believes it to be of paramount importance. Its staff is fully trained and practised in a wide range of safety, security and contingency procedures, including flooding.

In line with the government's declaration of special holidays in response to the flood threats to Bangkok, Bumrungrad International Hospital has spilled the news that it will suspend all non-urgent and non-emergency outpatient services from today to Monday.

Emergency-room and inpatient facilities will operate normally, and emergency and urgent-care outpatient capabilities will be added. All appointments during the period will be rescheduled to a later date.

Tassapon Bijleveld, chief executive officer of Thai AirAsia Co, said 15 per cent of all flight reservations from China had been cancelled because of fear of floods.

The Tourism Authority of Thailand said that in the worst case, domestic tourism this year would drop by 6 per cent from the 104 million trips projected earlier to 98.6 million trips, while the number of foreign travellers would fall from 19.5 million to 19.1 million.

-- The Nation 2011-10-28

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Tide Prediction Bangkok - Friday 28

Source: http://easytide.ukho.gov.uk/EasyTide/EasyTide/ShowPrediction.aspx?PortID=6882A&PredictionLength=7

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Tens of thousands evacuated after huge wartime bomb found in German city

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US issues warning on travel to flood-hit Thailand

WASHINGTON, October 28, 2011 (AFP) - The United States on Thursday issued a warning to its nationals to avoid all but essential travel to parts of Thailand hit by floods, but pointed out that many tourist hotspots were unaffected.

Thousands of Bangkok residents fled the capital on Thursday ahead of a mass of approaching floodwater. The city's metropolitan area and 20 provinces are affected by the extensive flooding, the State Department said.

"The US Department of State recommends against all but essential travel to these areas of Thailand," it said in a statement.

"Severe flooding has hampered transportation and limited access to some essential services in the affected regions."

The State Department however said that Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport -- the country's main air hub -- was still operating normally, and that "most tourist destinations, such as Phuket and Chiang Mai, are unaffected."

It urged US nationals living or taking vacations in affected areas to follow the advice of local authorities and monitor local media for information about the floods.

Much of Thailand has already been ravaged by the three-month flood crisis caused by unusually heavy monsoon rains, which has left more than 370 people dead and millions of homes and livelihoods damaged.

-- (c) Copyright AFP 2011-10-28

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Today's high tide at 8.03am at 2.57m and at 5.52pm at 2.44m. Low tide at 2.16am at 1.36m and at 1.35pm at 2.17m. /TAN_Network

Isolated storms predicted in North, North East, Central. Cold weather expected in northern region, with fog in morning. /TAN_Network

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Grand Palace pier http://bit.ly/shGnWu /RT @BangkokDan

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36 countries warn citizens to avoid all but essention travel to flood-affected areas in Thailand (BkkPost) /RT @RichardBarrow:

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Immigration makes the follwowing announcement regarding their emergency service:

Attention!!

We don't have any shop for service copy document and take a photo.

Please prepair require document and photograph before contact Immigration Officer.

Click here for more details of require document.

Please copy of passport (Ex. Page of Photo, entries stamp, visa sticker and extension stamp (if any), TM.6 card)

and 4 X 6 cm photograph.

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Nothing dramatic crossing Bangkok from Prakanong to Grand Palace, morning overspill there easily controlled. /RT @BangkokDan

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A member reports, according to Nation TV a crocodile was seen between Lad Phrao and Ratchada

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Devastating flooding outside of BKK RT @RichardBarrow: Media seem focused on Bangkok but real story is in the suburbs & rest of Thailand

Team fm @USEmbassyBKK reports traffic on road 2 Suvarnabhumi airport moving smoothly. Inside, departure areas crowded. /RT @KristieKenney:

Well some roads in Yaowarat with ankle-deep water this morning. Nothing unusual and gone in three hours. /RT @BangkokDan:

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Chartered flights from China canceled due to flood in Bangkok

BANGKOK, 28 October 2011 (NNT)-The Association of Thai Travel Agents (ATTA) revealed that over 70% of chartered flights from China to Thailand have been canceled after the Chinese government refused to provide any compensation for their tour agents.

According to ATTA President Mr. Sittiwatchara Cheewarattanaporn, most of the canceled flights from China were due to arrive in Bangkok in November while only a few still flying are those going to spend a vacation in Phuket.

The President said because Chinese tour agents had mistaken that both airports in Bangkok were closed due to flood and the warning from their government against traveling to Thailand at this time, the majority of Bangkok bound chartered flights had been canceled accordingly.

Their reaction was also due to the uncertainty around the flood situation in Bangkok. Mr. Sittiwatchara added that it would take at least a month to restore the tourism sector in Thailand after the flood recedes.

Thailand will miss the opportunity to reap revenues from the tourism industry particularly during the high season which begins form November to December.

He further added that the private sector needed accurate information on where it could flood and the approximate time frame for the impact given that they could not clarify nor explain to their foreign counterparts about the situation in Thailand. Despite the disaster, the numbers of Indian and Russian tourists arriving to Thailand remain unaffected.

-- NNT 2011-10-28

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Nation Channel & Rawangpai's call center for flood victims Tel: 090-409-1393-4 (24 hrs) @Rawangpai RT @Tulip_Oum: RT @renee_m: