Thailand Live Saturday 29 Oct 2011

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Guardian:Thai PM expects water to recede by next week but residents face bottled water shortage and crocodile threat http://t.co/QDEaNI6m/via@sutichai

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FROC Announcement: Oct 29, 9PM

UPDATE : 29 October 2011

The Flood Relief Operations Center (FROC) held a press conference at 9 PM. The center updated the public about the overall efforts to drain water from various areas into the Gulf of Thailand with efforts to siphon water from Rangsit into Hok Wa Canal then through Saen Sab into Bang Pa Kong River and eventually into the Gulf of Thailand.

The FROC center says the water situation along the Chao Phraya River today was somewhat better than yesterday's. The water rose to approximately the same level as the flood barriers along the riverbanks at 2.5 meter. It reiterated that all related agencies are doing their best drain the water to the Gulf of Thailand.

The FROC has relocated to a secondary location after flood water and breached almost the entire Don Muang area. The relocation came days after an earlier announcement that the center will not be moved as it could affect the morale of the public. The FROC is still contactable via the same hotline number at 1111 ext 5.

The center also updated the public on the tap water situation for areas located on the west side of Chao Phraya River. The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority has announced earlier this morning that tap water production at Maha Sawad water treatment plant has been compromised by water quality and abundance of seaweed clogging up machinery.

The production was reduced from 900,000 cubic meters per day to just 400,000 cubic meters per day. The FROC said before the press conference the Waterworks Authority says the production capacity has been restored to 600,000 cubic meters. Tap water distribution is available only from 6-9 A.M. and 5-8 P.M.

For details on affected areas go here.

Meanwhile, the FROC calls for the Thai public to remain united and be considerate of the greater good. The comment came after residents in Lak Hok (behind Nawong Temple), Pathum Thani disassembled the flood barrier along Prapa Canal resulting in a 10-meter long gap. The authorities have been able to negotiate with the locals to allow the officials to repair the flood barrier. However, the damaged barrier had already allowed flood water to gush into Prapa (Waterworks) Canal.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-29

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Briefs

The Nation

CIMB may move HQ to Pattaya amid flood CIMB Thai Bank is considering shifting its Bangkok headquarters to Pattaya if the capital city floods seriously.

Nazir Razak, chief executive of Malaysia-based CIMB Group, said in Kuala Lumpur that the bank had made a contingency plan for flooding in Bangkok, which is expected to peak in the next few days.

He said CIMB Pattaya was prepared to become a temporary headquarters for CIMB Thai.

The flooding could affect the bank's regional information-technology plan under which Thailand is to be the first to launch the service in the first quarter of next year. CIMB has about 300 experts working on the new regional IT system out of Bangkok.

Nazir said CIMB had contingency plans against natural disasters wherever it operates as part of general business practice.

Radio updates start

MCOT is joining forces with the Prime Minister's Office and the Interior Ministry to launch special programmes on its radio network for flood relief in Bangkok.

Acting president and executive vice president Sura Gaintanasilp said FM 100.5 would report Thai News Agency updates on the flood situation in Bangkok and surrounding areas around the clock. The radio station will also open its hotline to receive complaints from flood victims as well as donations for flood relief.

Meanwhile, MCOT is offering a talk programme on FM 96.5. Moderators will talk with professionals and academics to seek the best solutions for the flood crisis.

These programmes were to start yesterday.

GSB lucky draws

Government Savings Bank plans to issue premium savings certificates, and 1 per cent of proceeds from their sale will be allocated to flood relief. They will also get their principal back in two years, but no interest.

Lersak Chuladesa, president and chief executive officer of GSB, said the bank was also planning to raise money for flood relief through a monthly lucky draw beginning early next year.

The lucky draws will take place every month from February next year to January 2013, for a total of 24 months. The first prize will be worth as much as Bt500,000.

Second prize, with four winners in each draw, will be Bt30,000; 10 third-prize winners will get Bt15,000, and 30 fourth-prize winners will receive Bt5,000 each. There is also a fifth prize, with 50 winner getting Bt2,500 each.

Lucky-draw tickets will cost Bt40 each and will be available at GSB branches nationwide from this Monday through December 30.

Posco takes over Thainox

Posco, the world's fourth-largest steelmaker, has succeeded with its takeover bid for Thainox Stainless, with its stake in the Thai company rising to 94.93 per cent.

The tender offer was launched on September 20 after the Korean company acquired about 60 per cent of the firm owned by Prayudh Mahagitsiri and his family.

In a statement to the Stock Exchange of Thailand, Posco said that of the total 6.6 billion shares tendered shares, shareholders with 6.2 billion shares showed interest in selling. Altogether, Posco now holds 7.4 billion shares or 94.93 per cent in Thainox.

-- The Nation 2011-10-29

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THAI uses bigger aircraft for southern routes

Thai Airways International (THAI) is utilising larger aircraft to southern destination during the flooding crisis, in response to higher travelling demand.

"The numbers of passengers travelling out of Bangkok have increased due to the severe Bangkok flooding. The airline will increase its seat capacity in order to support the current volume of travellers," said THAI President Piyasvasti Amranand.

The larger airplanes will be operated on Bangkok-Phuket, Bangkok-Hat Yai and Bangkok-Krabi routes.

The State Raiway of Thailand on Saturday resumed the services to 18 destinations in the South, following suspension on Friday as the tracks are partially flooded.

-- The Nation 2011-10-29

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UN supports Thailand's flood crisis management

The Nation

Thailand's Geo-informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), which is supporting FROC information management, has won the United Nations ESCAPs' permission to access near real-time flood data from the global constellation of earth observation satellites.

ESCAP is now working with the regional satellite-based disaster information monitoring network Sentinel Asia, the International Charter Space and Major Disasters - supported by a dozen major world space agencies and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR).

The international support is helping GISTDA access satellite data more frequently, including from commercial satellites, for monitoring the socio-economic damage caused by the floods.

According to the statement by the UN ESCAP Strategic Communications and Advocacy Section, the initiative is in response to the Thai government’s request. It supplements ESCAP’s collaboration with the International Centre for Water Hazard and Risk Management (ICHARM) in Japan in providing assistance for better flood risk management in Asia and the Pacific. A joint ESCAP-ICHARM expert team is to conduct a field survey in Thailand next month. ESCAP also initiated collaboration for regular access to satellite data and long-term capacity development for disaster risk management in the country.

This week, ESCAP’s executive secretary Noeleen Heyzer visited the Flood Relief Operations Centre at the Don Mueang Airport. Then, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra made the request for satellite data support.

Expressing support for the response of Thai authorities to the flood, Dr. Heyzer reiterated the firm commitment of the UN to supporting the country's ongoing flood relief and rehabilitation efforts, followed up by resilient recovery from this unprecedented disaster.

The United Nations Asia-Pacific chief emphasized that ESCAP and the nearly 30 United Nations agencies and entities based in Bangkok were ready to support Government efforts to formulate a long-term response to the crisis, beyond the present emergency situation.

-- The Nation 2011-10-29

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In Samut Prakan we usually get high tide floods every year. But this year nothing. Our canals are half empty too./via@RichardBarrow

Water expert Anond: it should take 2-4 wks to get BKK dry/via@Biz_TheNation

"@SRMflood: 22.18 Rajamangkala shelter has lots of 12x9inch candles. Any shelters in need can call 02-3180943 /via@Biz_TheNation

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What?!! The FROC moved to EnCo building but left 600 evacuees at DonMueang airport w/o electricity/water? Via @looknum_NBC: 22.28 #ch3/via@aim_NT

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What?!! The FROC moved to EnCo building but left 600 evacuees at DonMueang airport w/o electricity/water? Via @looknum_NBC: 22.28 #ch3/via@aim_NT

The 600 evacuees volunteered to stay at DonMueang Airport despite no electricity, water. #ch3 via @NationChannel24: 22.53น/via@aim_NT

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"Top Secret" actor Peach Chirathiwat is to prepare food for flood victims in front of CentralWorld from 10.30am tomorrow/via@veen_NT