Exodus From Bangkok In Full Swing

[webfact]

Exodus in full swing

Suchat Sritama,

Jaturaporn Suk-in

The Nation

Flights packed and traffic jams reported on roads leaving Bangkok; Pattaya, Hua Hin, Cha-am, Kanchanaburi main destinations; 1,000 bus trips added to carry more passengers

The exodus of flood-weary Bangkokians from the city gathered pace yesterday, jamming outbound highways with cars and adding to packed accommodations in Pattaya, Hua Hin and Chon Buri, among other destinations.

For a few days now, Bangkokians have locked up their homes and migrated to resorts or relatives' homes upcountry, but after the government on Wednesday announced October 27, 28 and 31 to be public holidays in 21 flood-hit provinces, the intermittent streams yesterday became a flood of stressful holiday seekers.

Fuelling the rush out of Bangkok was the city administration's declaration of evacuation zones. Residents of Don Muang, Bang Phlat and Sai Mai districts have been told to leave their homes. Partial evacuation was also announced for Thawee Watthana district.

Traffic jams were reported on many roads leaving the capital. Towards the Northeast, motorists crowded High-way 304 from Bangkok, Chachoen-gsao and Prachin Buri to Nakhon Ratchasima, while heading south, the road to Prachuap Khiri Khan's Hua Hin and beyond saw heavy traffic.

Transport Co has added 1,000 more bus trips to serve people wishing to return to their home towns. President Wutthichat Kalayanamit said its terminal no longer had leftover travellers because the company had brought the total bus trips available to 4,000 per day and would support 200,000 travellers.

Many travellers could expect to reach destinations up to five hours late, he said, as roads were flooded.

Mor Chit 2 Terminal was busy with travellers seeking to get buses to their home towns. Renu Sukthat said she had been staying with a relative in Bangkok's Srinakarin Road area because her Phichit home was flooded. But now since Bangkok's water was rising, she had decided to go home.

Kanchana-buri is proving a popular destination for Bangkok people to spend their special holidays away from the flood water. Traf-fic jams were reported in the city from Wed-nesday evening, especially on Saeng Chuto Road.

Kanchana-buri's deputy governor called an urgent meeting to plan support for the visitors and prepare temples and schools to shelter thousands of evacuees for the next 30 days.

Another popular getaway destination was Chon Buri's Pat-taya city. Hotels in Bangkok and nearby destinations such as Pattaya and Hua Hin are gaining more business as Bangkokians escape the floods, fully booking hotels and other accommodation.

Eastern Thai Hotel Association president Buntharik Kusolwit urged people to check for hotels before visiting Pattaya on www.facebook.com/ ptygrandsales or www.trip2pattaya. com, or call the city's hotline 1337.

Supawan Tanomkietipume, chairman of the marketing department of the Thai Hotels Association (THA) said many hotels and condominiums in Pattaya, Hua Hin and Cha-am were gaining higher occupancy rates as people escape the flooding in Bangkok and check in for short stays.

Airlines operating out of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport are reporting full bookings through to the end of this year - as passengers are unable to travel by car through flood areas or do not wish to take buses through time-consuming alternative routes.

Supawan said accommodation in Bangkok was also receiving more customers.

"Operators are gaining thousands of room-nights since the water flow reached the capital this week," she added.

She said the higher demand from local residents could make up for cancellations by foreign tourists, since many countries had issued high-level travel warnings about Bangkok.

According to the THA, many operators so far had not profited from the higher occupancy rate as they were offering lower prices to help those affected by the floods.

More than 30 THA members last week offered special rates to help Thai flood victims of Bt600, Bt900 and Bt1,200 per night until November 5. All these rooms were sold within days of the campaign launch.

The association is considering extending the campaign as the flood situation continues.

A group of hotels in Pattaya this week introduced special deals for flood-affected families in Bangkok.

Many house owners in Pattaya are offering long-stay deals for families, but rates might climb to Bt25,000 per month.

The Twin Towers Hotel in Bangkok said it received more than 100 room-nights from the local market, but gained a lower return as it dropped rates from more than Bt1,000 for tourists to Bt900 per night for locals.

Novotel Bangna in Bangkok is offering a similar promotion for flood victims from today to the end of November, at Bt1,400-Bt1,650 per night.

Onyx Hotels and Resorts has special rates at hotels in Bangkok and in the provinces to help flood victims.

The City Hotel Sriracha is also promoting a weekly and monthly stay rate for Thai citizens only.

X2 Kui Buri is offering Bt4,850-Bt6,500 rates for two people from today until November 23.

Le Buri in Pranburi is also offering rooms for families of six to eight persons at Bt11,900, to end on November 23.

-- The Nation 2011-10-28

Related links:

Hua Hin info: http://huahin.thaivisa.com

Cha-am info: http://cha-am.thaivisa.com

[londonthai]

if people are leaving today, it's not because of the public holidays (which started yesterday), but because of the glooming flood.

they won't be coming back soon, not on sunday and no earlier, than bangkok is reasonably dry.

[sfbandung]

"More than 30 THA members last week offered special rates to help Thai flood victims of Bt600, Bt900 and Bt1,200 per night until November 5. All these rooms were sold within days of the campaign launch."

No talk of government subsidised rooms? Probably open to flagrant abuse I suppose. Has the government set up shelters in Pattaya, Hua Hin etc for the 90% of people for whom a hotel room is a dream?

[jaywalker]

7-11's, Tesco, Makro, Big C running low on many things in Pattaya....At least my house is dry so can't complain too much.

We have the RO water dispensers to get drinking water here & Lake Mabprachan is FULL.

Sukhumvit is PACKED with BKK car tags. Can't blame the folks for getting out of a city that is sinking. The floods are having a bit of a further reaching affect than those just under water.....Can't find eggs & such at the moment. Traffic was almost like Songkran traffic here yesterday.

[BigBikeBKK]

Better get out before the government destroys the roads...

At what point does incompetence become criminal?

Edited October 28, 2011 by BigBikeBKK

[LTGTR]

This is HILARIOUS!

"Airlines operating out of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport are reporting full bookings through to the end of this year"

Wow,really?

[sirchai]

"More than 30 THA members last week offered special rates to help Thai flood victims of Bt600, Bt900 and Bt1,200 per night until November 5. All these rooms were sold within days of the campaign launch."

No talk of government subsidised rooms? Probably open to flagrant abuse I suppose. Has the government set up shelters in Pattaya, Hua Hin etc for the 90% of people for whom a hotel room is a dream?

"Many house owners in Pattaya are offering long-stay deals for families, but rates might climb to Bt25,000 per month."

What a joke. Most people in Bangkok are piss poor, they can't even afford to travel. Who's helping them? Is anybody giving them food, money and a place to stay? Most of them do not have a safe job, what will they do afterwards?

I feel very sorry for the people who deserve to receive help, but never get it......

[w11guy]

if people are leaving today, it's not because of the public holidays (which started yesterday), but because of the glooming flood.

they won't be coming back soon, not on sunday and no earlier, than bangkok is reasonably dry.

It's very dry today so they must already be on their way back!

[w11guy]

Why are people leaving. Most of Bangkok is dry and most of the predicted floods simply haven't happened. Yes, some areas are flooded, but the vast majority of areas are dry.

[englishinsiam]

7-11's, Tesco, Makro, Big C running low on many things in Pattaya....At least my house is dry so can't complain too much.

We have the RO water dispensers to get drinking water here & Lake Mabprachan is FULL.

Sukhumvit is PACKED with BKK car tags. Can't blame the folks for getting out of a city that is sinking. The floods are having a bit of a further reaching affect than those just under water.....Can't find eggs & such at the moment. Traffic was almost like Songkran traffic here yesterday.

Go to Friendship apparently their warehouse is not on a flood path and they are okay. I went in this morning and got some Milk and their shelves are full.

Makro and Tesco yesterday were both pretty bare and eggs can be found at the local markets and also at Western Wholesale Meat Company on Soi Chaiyapreuk 2 I spoke to Eric yesteray and he has plenty.

[sfbandung]

This is HILARIOUS!

"Airlines operating out of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport are reporting full bookings through to the end of this year"

Wow,really?

Not true. I read it and panicked as we hadn't booked through to Udon Thani in mid December. Plenty of availibility on Air Asia and Thai. So BKK UDT isn't a problem. Perhaps they meant "to the end of this week"? Or they just made it up.

[webfact]

Thai floods inch closer to city centre

by Anusak Konglang

BANGKOK, October 28, 2011 (AFP) - Floods that have sparked an exodus from the Thai capital crept closer to the city centre on Friday, but hopes grew that emergency barriers would prevent a major overflow from Bangkok's main river.

The city of 12 million people is on heightened alert because of threats on two fronts -- a seasonal high tide this weekend that is expected to coincide with the arrival of a mass of water from the flood-stricken central plains.

The three-month crisis -- triggered by unusually heavy monsoon rains -- has left at least 377 people dead and damaged millions of homes and livelihoods, mostly in northern and central Thailand.

While the government is largely focused on defending the capital, people in the worst-hit provinces north of the city have endured weeks of flooding.

Thousands of residents have left Bangkok after the government declared a special five-day holiday, flocking to rail and bus stations in the city and jamming roads as they head to areas out of the path of the water.

So far, however, central Bangkok has only seen minor inundation in areas along the main Chao Phraya River, including near the Grand Palace, with most of the city centre still dry.

"The Chao Phraya overflowed and flooded some areas along the river but it receded quite quickly," a spokesman for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration said after Friday morning's high tide.

Tourists walking through ankle-deep water near the Grand Palace appeared unfazed, despite a slew of travel warnings from foreign governments.

"It's adding to our experience," said 32-year-old British honeymooner Melanie Willoughby. "They all seem to be coping well. The only thing we found is that it's been hard to get (drinking) water."

Friday morning's high tide -- measured at 2.47 metres above sea level -- was lower than expected, raising hopes that the river's flood barriers would prevent a major overflow.

"The Navy predicted 2.57 metres on Saturday but I think it will be bit lower based on today," said an official at the city's Drainage and Sewerage Department who did not want to be named.

"So the walls can still hold it back, despite flooding on the river banks which is usual during high tide."

At the same time billions of cubic metres of water lie north of the capital, creeping slowly southwards as the authorities attempt to channel the muddy brown liquid through the city's canals and rivers.

Some areas in northern Bangkok have seen waist-deep flooding, leading to the shutdown of the city's second airport, Don Mueang.

On Thursday an emotional Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, in office for barely two months, warned that the country could not resist the "force of nature" by trying to hold back the water forever.

The authorities have opened sluice gates around the city to allow water to flow through canals but experts and officials have given conflicting information about the risks of major flooding in downtown Bangkok.

More than 100,000 people have sought refuge at emergency shelters and tens of thousands of troops have joined the relief efforts.

The crisis is taking its toll on the lucrative Thai tourism industry, with the United States joining other countries including Britain, Singapore, Canada in advising against all but essential travel to Bangkok.

Most of the country's top tourist destinations have been unaffected by the disaster and Suvarnabhumi Airport, the main gateway to Thailand, is operating as usual, along with the city's subway and elevated train.

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

[ratcatcher]

This is HILARIOUS!

"Airlines operating out of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport are reporting full bookings through to the end of this year"

Wow,really?

No doubt all these refugees booking into hotels and flying out and back in will be counted as "tourists" by TAT.

[chadintheusa]

The insistence that the international airport will remain open gives me reason to worry because the PM has been wrong about everything else so far. Maybe the plan is for her to bungle things so badly that people will beg for the return of her scoundrel brother. Better a thief in charge instead of a dolt.

[ES1]

Noticing a lot of Thai familes around Pattaya who don't look like like your typical Bkk weekenders. Definitely a lot of people in Pattaya for only 1 reason right now.

[ballpoint]

From the OP:

According to the THA, many operators so far had not profited from the higher occupancy rate as they were offering lower prices to help those affected by the floods.

More than 30 THA members last week offered special rates to help Thai flood victims of Bt600, Bt900 and Bt1,200 per night until November 5. All these rooms were sold within days of the campaign launch.

While some others are doing the exact opposite. A quick look at some of the hotel booking websites shows some hotels are charging 10x their normal rate for a room. This includes one I normally stay at in Hua Hin, but will not be doing so again.

[TomTao]

7-11's, Tesco, Makro, Big C running low on many things in Pattaya....At least my house is dry so can't complain too much.

We have the RO water dispensers to get drinking water here & Lake Mabprachan is FULL.

Sukhumvit is PACKED with BKK car tags. Can't blame the folks for getting out of a city that is sinking. The floods are having a bit of a further reaching affect than those just under water.....Can't find eggs & such at the moment. Traffic was almost like Songkran traffic here yesterday.

Just been down to Big C here in Chumphon, almost all the rice and noodles are gone, they have run out of sugar and some other basics that come through Bangkok are running low, Makkro looked like it had plenty of most things yesterday, but rice was begining to look low, but the people of Chumphon have sent truckloads of supplies up to the flood affected areas from Makkro, I haven't been to Tesco yet, but I assume it would be the same as Big C. Still got eggs at the local markets as well as greens, but the stuff that comes down from or through BKK will only last so long.

[block2]

Why are people leaving. Most of Bangkok is dry and most of the predicted floods simply haven't happened.

YET !!!

wonder if you'll be saying the same after the weekend....I have seen the devastation the floods have caused to Nakhon Sawan, up here we have had problems since the beginning of July....there is still a lot of water which ever direction you look . We are 200 kilometers away from bangkok and this water has to come bangkoks way to get to the sea....this is not going to end in 1 week, 1 month...this is going to take months and I'm not talking about bangkok, I',m talking about the Nakhon Sawan area. Once the water does swamp bangkok, which it will, it's going to be there for a very long time.....good luck to everyone in the bangkok area...

[erobando]

"More than 30 THA members last week offered special rates to help Thai flood victims of Bt600, Bt900 and Bt1,200 per night until November 5. All these rooms were sold within days of the campaign launch."

No talk of government subsidised rooms? Probably open to flagrant abuse I suppose. Has the government set up shelters in Pattaya, Hua Hin etc for the 90% of people for whom a hotel room is a dream?

There are shelters available for people that need to be evacuated.

But most of the people leaving are doing it by choice.

Most areas of BKK will retain power... staying will be inconvenient but possible.

[Eddy1960]

The insistence that the international airport will remain open gives me reason to worry because the PM has been wrong about everything else so far. Maybe the plan is for her to bungle things so badly that people will beg for the return of her scoundrel brother. Better a thief in charge instead of a dolt.

better to think about what would you do because i think you no it al

i hope everthing will work out good for the poor people

[jimbeam1]

Why are people leaving. Most of Bangkok is dry and most of the predicted floods simply haven't happened.

YET !!!

wonder if you'll be saying the same after the weekend....I have seen the devastation the floods have caused to Nakhon Sawan, up here we have had problems since the beginning of July....there is still a lot of water which ever direction you look . We are 200 kilometers away from bangkok and this water has to come bangkoks way to get to the sea....this is not going to end in 1 week, 1 month...this is going to take months and I'm not talking about bangkok, I',m talking about the Nakhon Sawan area. Once the water does swamp bangkok, which it will, it's going to be there for a very long time.....good luck to everyone in the bangkok area...

I am in Bangkok. I can understand why w11guy posted as he did, as we are getting so many conflicting stories as to when and how much water we are going to get. It is almost like now ok lets have it and get it over with. For a lot of us it is similar to that of a Pantomime horse, the arse end doesn't know what the front end is doing.

jb1

[FOODLOVER]

This is HILARIOUS!

"Airlines operating out of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport are reporting full bookings through to the end of this year"

Wow,really?

Tourism is on the rise!

[dave111223]

Why are people leaving. Most of Bangkok is dry and most of the predicted floods simply haven't happened.

I agree. Most of the news reports and maps seem to be full of sh*t. Seems like every day we are getting someone calling us saying "I just heard on the news that your area is totally flooded now"...there is not a drop of water round here.

For example maps like this: http://www.floodthailand.net/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=55

Has shown a big flood blob on the map at the Ramintra - Phahonyothin roundabout for the last 4 days...THERE IS NOT AND HAS NOT BEEN ANY WATER THERE. So i can only assume that the rest of the map is also wrong, seeing as every area I frequent are marked incorrectly.

Seems like there a lot of bitters on here who chose to buy land out in the middle of no where for a couple of baht a rai to build on, and now they are hoping Bangkok floods so that their crap choice of location doesn't seem so bad.

[SantiSuk]

This is HILARIOUS!

"Airlines operating out of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport are reporting full bookings through to the end of this year"

Wow,really?

Not true. I read it and panicked as we hadn't booked through to Udon Thani in mid December. Plenty of availibility on Air Asia and Thai. So BKK UDT isn't a problem. Perhaps they meant "to the end of this week"? Or they just made it up.

Same here - rushed to book a flight to BKK form Ubon on 17-Dec. Not only was there availability on both flights but they were at a handsome early bird promotional discount. Does anyone think Air Asia would be offering discounts if their flights were filling up!?

<Snip!> journalism again.

Edited October 28, 2011 by metisdead
Expletive deleted.

[lounger]

This is HILARIOUS!

"Airlines operating out of Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi Airport are reporting full bookings through to the end of this year"

Wow,really?

Not true. I read it and panicked as we hadn't booked through to Udon Thani in mid December. Plenty of availibility on Air Asia and Thai. So BKK UDT isn't a problem. Perhaps they meant "to the end of this week"? Or they just made it up.

Same here - rushed to book a flight to BKK form Ubon on 17-Dec. Not only was there availability on both flights but they were at a handsome early bird promotional discount. Does anyone think Air Asia would be offering discounts if their flights were filling up!?

<Snip!> journalism again.

There was talk of Thai air charging a 300% surcharge but maybe thats down now as the hotels have cottoned on and in the name of charity ( or do I mean sensible marketing) are lowering prices.

Anyway back to why are people leaving? Its because Yingluck declared a holiday. Thais always go home on holidays. And to boot I got an email from Bunrungrad Hospital saying that in view of the HOLIDAY they were closing down all non emergency work and I have to reschedule my appointment for after the HOLIDAYs.....

only in Thailand can you get a flood leading to warning of water born health problems leading to a public holiday leading to a hospital closing for the HOLIDAY

[Gers1873]

7-11's, Tesco, Makro, Big C running low on many things in Pattaya....At least my house is dry so can't complain too much.

We have the RO water dispensers to get drinking water here & Lake Mabprachan is FULL.

Sukhumvit is PACKED with BKK car tags. Can't blame the folks for getting out of a city that is sinking. The floods are having a bit of a further reaching affect than those just under water.....Can't find eggs & such at the moment. Traffic was almost like Songkran traffic here yesterday.

Hotel prices now higher than in the high season!!!!! Nice to see people profitting from other peoples misery!!!!!!!!:jap:

[kerryk]

7-11's, Tesco, Makro, Big C running low on many things in Pattaya....At least my house is dry so can't complain too much.

We have the RO water dispensers to get drinking water here & Lake Mabprachan is FULL.

Sukhumvit is PACKED with BKK car tags. Can't blame the folks for getting out of a city that is sinking. The floods are having a bit of a further reaching affect than those just under water.....Can't find eggs & such at the moment. Traffic was almost like Songkran traffic here yesterday.

Hotel prices now higher than in the high season!!!!! Nice to see people profitting from other peoples misery!!!!!!!!:jap:

I found a lot of discounts. What do you base your information on?

[ballpoint]

7-11's, Tesco, Makro, Big C running low on many things in Pattaya....At least my house is dry so can't complain too much.

We have the RO water dispensers to get drinking water here & Lake Mabprachan is FULL.

Sukhumvit is PACKED with BKK car tags. Can't blame the folks for getting out of a city that is sinking. The floods are having a bit of a further reaching affect than those just under water.....Can't find eggs & such at the moment. Traffic was almost like Songkran traffic here yesterday.

Hotel prices now higher than in the high season!!!!! Nice to see people profitting from other peoples misery!!!!!!!!:jap:

I found a lot of discounts. What do you base your information on?

Maybe, as I did, he saw a bunch of hotels that were charging 2,000 baht a night a few days ago now charging 20,000 baht a night?

[sbk]

Off topic political stuff deleted, please keep it on topic and lets drop the political rivalry, thanks, I have had enough of it to last me a lifetime and I am sure that those who are affected have as well.

[allan michaud]

Why are people leaving. Most of Bangkok is dry and most of the predicted floods simply haven't happened.

YET !!!

wonder if you'll be saying the same after the weekend....I have seen the devastation the floods have caused to Nakhon Sawan, up here we have had problems since the beginning of July....there is still a lot of water which ever direction you look . We are 200 kilometers away from bangkok and this water has to come bangkoks way to get to the sea....this is not going to end in 1 week, 1 month...this is going to take months and I'm not talking about bangkok, I',m talking about the Nakhon Sawan area. Once the water does swamp bangkok, which it will, it's going to be there for a very long time.....good luck to everyone in the bangkok area...

I am in Bangkok. I can understand why w11guy posted as he did, as we are getting so many conflicting stories as to when and how much water we are going to get. It is almost like now ok lets have it and get it over with. For a lot of us it is similar to that of a Pantomime horse, the arse end doesn't know what the front end is doing.

jb1

"For a lot of us it is similar to that of a Pantomime horse, the arse end doesn't know what the front end is doing."

Spot on!