Thailand Live Sunday 30 Oct 2011

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PM confident flood would recede after Monday

BANGKOK, 31 October 2011 (NNT)-Prime Minister Yingluck Shinnawat expressed her beliefs that after tomorrow the flooding situation will start to ease, provided that there are no major downpours or rising sea water level.

She urged residents residing near canals not to destroy barriers in attempts to drain water out of their community, explaining that the barriers are the capital’s one of the last lines of defense.

Ms YingLuck assured the government was doing its best to manage the floodwater and that it would never abandon flood victims in the remote provinces, adding she had instructed authorities to thoroughly look after the flood affected areas.

She also urged the flood victims to leave their homes and stay in the evacuation center, adding that she had stressed the police to patrol the flood area to prevent burglaries.

As for additional holiday, the Prime Minister said that she would need to consult with the cabinet first, but added that she personally preferred more holidays until the situation return to normal.

Finally, she mentioned the ex-prime minister Thaksin Shinnawat’s proposal to make spillways to manage waterflow as coinciding with other academics' suggestion and that she would consider the project in the future.

-- NNT 2011-10-30

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Flood Relief Operations Center video clip reveals donation hoarding

BANGKOK, 31 October 2011 (NNT)- A video clip has been released online revealing hoarded donations by the Flood Relief Operations Center .

Follow this link: http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/508902-flood-relief-operations-center-video-clip-reveals-donation-hoarding/page__view__findpost__p__4807681

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Sukhumvit 50 flooded after Phra Khanong Canal embankment breached

The embankment of Phra Khanong Canal in Bangkok's Klong Toey district breached at two spots, causing the water to overflow to inundate Soi Sukhumvit 50 Sunday morning.

The sea high tide made it difficult for workers to fix the breached parts.

-- The Nation 2011-10-30

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Drinking water producers outside flood-hit provinces also complain about Govt's imported water plan, saying they have capacity to do it./via@veen_NT

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Talingchan, Bangramad, Chimplee subdistricts in Talingchan District announced as risk areas; may be elevated to evacuation area tonight/TAN_Network

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Soi Samsen 21, 23 flooded

Flood embankment on Soi Samsen 21 and 23 breached, causing the swollen Chao Phraya to inundate the two sois Sunday morning.

The embankment was breached Saturday and officials worked throughout the night to fix it but it breached again.

The water flew out to flood the Samsen Road, prompting officials to close the traffic from Sri Yan Intersection to Bang Krabua Intersection to try to drain the floodwater.

-- The Nation 2011-10-30

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Aerial view. Don Muang domestic airport water.http://t.co/nkFk6F1K/via @KristieKenney

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BKK Govn: residents of following subdistricts of Talingchun to prepare to evacuate; Talingchun,/via@Tulip_Oum

Bangkok Governor warns Talingchan, Chimplee, Bang Ramad to be on high alert for flood; to speed up repairs of ruptured dyke at Rangsit canal/MCOT

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5-10% flood evacuees contracted chronic diseases

BANGKOK, 30 October 2011 (NNT)-The Department of Disease Control encourage flood evacuees to inform authorities in charge if they are sick as over 5-10 % of flood victims have reportedly contracted chronic diseases.

The Department Director-General, Dr. Pornthep Siriwanarangsan, said if medical treatments were not accessed soon, the patients' health could deteriorate. He advised that flood evacuees staying in the same shelter,should report to the shelter staff if they witnessed anyone with symptoms of diseases.

He said those who frequently developed hunger, perspired with shaking hands could be diabetic. Dr. Pornthep said severe symptoms for people who have diabetes include seizure and loss of consciousness. He advised that their conditions would improve in 5-10 minutes once treated with sugar or sweets.

However, if their sugar level is too high, they would become dehydrated, exhausted and eventually unconscious. It is important that a medication attention be sought once these symptoms have been detected.

As for those with high blood pressure, common symptoms may include dizziness, numbness in the feet or hands and a nose bleed. Dr. Pornthep said anyone with any kind of sickness should receive medications continuously. However they can call a public health hot line at 1442 for consultation or the Department of Disease Control at 02-5903333.

-- NNT 2011-10-30

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Thai Rath has a story on Bang Kruay residents in Nonthaburi: they said they didn't received help from officials despite 2m deep floods./via@veen_NT

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ABAC poll: Govt assistance has not reached all flooded areas

BANGKOK, 31 October 2011 (NNT) - ABAC poll revealed a majority of Thai people think the government's assistance has not reached all of the flooded areas. Still, the prime minister is given another chance to resolve flooding crisis.

According to Director of the ABAC Poll Research Center Dr Noppadol Kannika, the survey titled 'Suffering, Sacrifice and Government's Chance to Fight against Flood' was conducted among 1,457 Bangkok residents during 28-29 October 2011.

Results show that 74.9% of the respondents think assistance from the government and state agencies has proved unsuccessful to enter all of the flooded areas.

61.9% ,however, are willing to give the prime minister another chance to continue with relieving flood situation.

73.3% require that the government should send immediate assistance to flood victims and improve the working performance of police officers as well as the effectiveness of electricity and tap water system.

Secondary assistance ranges from delivering aids to all flooded areas, fixing expensive goods problem, fixing goods shortage problem, tracking down on criminals, and improving the Hot Line service to other kinds of assistance etc.

The survey also found that 77.4% of the respondents feel bored, stressful and worried, 76.9% find it inconvenient to commute, 66.8% sense insecurity in their lives and properties, 58.5% lack food, clean water and medicines while 38.9% are losing their incomes.

-- NNT 2011-10-30

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Nearly 3 out of 4 Bangkokians says govt help for flood victims not sufficient in all areas: Poll

BANGKOK, Oct 30 – As flooding continues in the capital, a poll found that 74.9% of Bangkok residents said the operations of the government and state agencies to help flood victims did not cover all areas.

Follow this link:http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/508910-nearly-3-out-of-4-bangkokians-says-govt-help-for-flood-victims-not-sufficient-in-all-areas/page__view__findpost__p__4807799

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Sukhumbhand urges FROC to block Rangsit Canal from overflowing into Vibhavadi Road

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra Sunday urged the Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) to set up an embankment to prevent Rangsit Canal from overflowing into the Vibhavadi Road.

Sukhubhand said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration urged the FROC several times to block the canal from overflowing into Vibhavadi Rangsit Road but its call has not been heeded so far.

Sukhumbhand said if the spot of the canal intersecting with the road was not prevented from overflowing with a floodwall, the flooding situation in Don Mueang and on Vibhavadi and Phaholyothin roads would not be alleviated.

He said BMA officials could not tackle the problems without protection from the security officials.

-- The Nation 2011-10-30

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They should have opened flood gates to let some of the water flow through Bkk's canals before this high tide period started. Now too late./via@RichardBarrow

Most of canals in inner Bkk & Samut Prakan are half empty & they could have used that to get run-off quicker out to sea/via@RichardBarrow

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The Opposition's Democrat Party criticizes the FROC for failing to distribute donated supplies to flood victims./TAN_Network

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FLOODING IN BANGKOK: WHAT TO EXPECT (30/10/2011)

Foreign Office, The Government Public Relations Department

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The police aim to crack down on overpriced goods during flooding period./TAN_Network

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Commerce Ministry to Impose Price Control on Flood-Essential Items

UPDATE : 30 October 2011

Deputy Prime Minister Kittirat Na Ranong, who is also the commerce minister, has announced that the government will impose price control on 16 flood-essential products.

Kittirat also warns that any overpricing of the products needed during the time of disaster such as drinking water, flashlights, life vests, sand, small boats and water pumps will be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-30

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Bangkok Metropolitan Admin Sun.declared sub-districts of Chim Pli,Taling Chan,Bang Ramad as special watch flood zones/via@Biz_TheNation

FROC wants special flood holidays extended to facilitate govt floods prevention and relief activities/via@Biz_TheNation

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CP Foods: No egg shortage as more supplies are being imported/TAN_Network

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Pattaya packed with flood evacuees

BANGKOK, 31 October 2011 (NNT) - Pattaya beach resort is crowded with flood-affected citizens fleeing to the East.

Floods in several areas in Thailand, particularly in Bangkok where water level is constantly increasing, have forced a huge number of people to relocate their belongings and take their family members to seek safety elsewhere.

Among the safe destination is Pattaya which a large number of flood-affected people have chosen as their shelter away from problems, making every roads starting from inbound Sukhumvit Road as well as roads and places in northern, central, and southern Pattaya packed with vehicles and people. Traffic jam can be experienced along the way.

Looking from tourism aspect, the beaches in Pattaya, Wongse Amatya and Chom Thian zones are overcrowded with both Thai and foreign toursists swimming joyfully in the sea, claiming that they need to relax from the stressful situation but they have to keep up with the news at the same time.

Mr Sinchai Wattanasartsathorn, Vice President of Pattaya Business and Tourism Association (PBTA), said Pattaya was presently entering the high season so, apart from the regular tourists from Russia and Europe, this year the city was very busy welcoming local tourists who escaped from the floods According to the survey, 70-80% of appromimately 70,000 rooms offered by the hoteliers in the area have already been booked. Nevertheless, the business sector has opened www.trip2pattaya.com for flood victims to check and reserve accommodations online with 60-70% discounts on offer to assist them as well.

-- NNT 2011-10-30

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Flood Expert: Water Likely to Reach Ladprao Intersection

UPDATE : 30 October 2011

Seri Suparatit, a flood expert from Rangsit University, believes that the floodwater which has already flown to Don Muang Airport will soon reach Ladprao Intersection as the nearby canal has exceeded its drainage capacity.

He advises the authorities not to completely block off the floodwater but instead manage its flow rate.

Meanwhile, the water has already started to flow into Kasetsart University from Phahonyothin Road.

-- Tan Network 2011-10-30

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Flooding situation in Paknam Po Sub-district in Muang District of Nakhon Sawan Province remains critical as many still cannot return home./TAN_Network

TR @jeerapong_nna: FROC: public holiday won't be extended, believe the flooding situation wouldn't worsen/via@Juarawee

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30/10 2:45pm (1) Water of Chaopraya river overflowed many roads in Samutprakarn province higher than 50cm,/via@ThaiFloodEng

30/10 2:45pm (2) particularly the entrance behind Imperial World Samrong. via @news1005fm/via@ThaiFloodEng

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PM's Office Minister Krissana Sihalak claims all donated supplies already moved from Don Muang Airport to the National Stadium./TAN_Network

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10 Flood evacuee centers in Bangkok shut down due to rising floodwater

BANGKOK, 30 October 2011 (NNT)-The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has already closed 10 flood evacuee centers which are located in 4 heavily inundated areas, prompting the transfer of 406 evacuees to other shelters outside of Bangkok.

According to the BMA, there are a total of 10,343 people staying in 436 school compounds which now serve as evacuee centers while ten of those have been closed as flood levels continue to rise.

These schools consist of 5 in Don Mueang which are Wat Weluwanaram, Phahonyothin, Prempracha, Pracha-uthit and Bumrung Rawiwan schools. Other two located in Sai Mai are Wat Ko Suwannaram and Soi Annex schools, and Sam Wa Mosque school which is in Khlong Sam Wa district. The two remaining schools in Thawi Watthana are Khlong Ton Sai and Khlong Thawi Watthana schools.

-- NNT 2011-10-30

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30/10 2:37pm A pole of Khlong Prapa overpass at Ngamwongwan Rd had broken 3 lanes, only one rightmost lane available for use. via@ThaiFloodEng

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Flood death toll in 26 provinces reaches 381/TAN_Network

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30/10 2:35pm (2) highest water level is 60cm at MuangTong 1 village, some residents still not evacuate. via @news1005fm /via@ThaiFloodEng

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PM: No extension for special holiday after Oct 27-31; confident flood crisis will ease after Monday, inner Bangkok can be protected from flooding/MCOT