Thailand Live Tuesday 1 Nov 2011

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2.08pm Kaset junction flooded by 30-40cm. Water on Phahon inbound reached Soi34,outbound Amornphan market pic.twitter.com/i5jo3B8b ~ @js100radio

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Cabinet turns down proposal for additional flood holidays; informed of postponement of Parliament session to deliberate 2012 budget/TAN_Network

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Chao Phraya River's high tide floods Boromratchachonnani, Arum Amarin and Charansanitwongse roads /TANN

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436 bank branches closed

The Nation

A number of 436 bank branches are closed as of Tuesday noon, all in 7 provinces.

According to the Bank of Thailand, 155 are in Pathum Thani, 146 in Bangkok, 69 in Nonthaburi, 35 in Ayutthaya, 19 in Nakhon Pathom, 10 in Nakhon Sawan and 2 in Chai Nat.

A number of unplugged ATMs rose slightly to 4,388, including 1,431 in Pathum Thani, 1,213 in Bangkok, 734 in Nonthaburi, 663 in Ayutthaya.

-- The Nation 2011-11-01

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RT @tulsathit: TR @news1005fm: Bangkok Remand Prison in Ladyao moving 200 inmates to Trad prison due to floods.

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Thailand International Education Expo postponed to next year

Severe flooding is affecting people as well as institutions and companies located in the central region. Since transportation has been disrupted and it is not completely clear when this situation will end, it is likely that many fair exhibitors will not be able to attend TIEE 2011 that was originally scheduled to be held from November 4 to 6 at Royal Paragon Hall, Siam Paragon Shopping Complex in Bangkok.

For safety reasons, Department of Export Promotion has decided to postpone TIEE 2011 and will hold it from March 30 to April 1 next year at the same venue.

For further inquiries, call +66 25078387or +66 2639 0581 to 4 or email [email protected] or [email protected].

-- The Nation 2011-11-01

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Floods in Thonburi Areas Decreasing

The floodwater level in Thonburi areas has been decreasing gradually while many communities in Talingchan are facing rising water.

The water level in Charansanitwong, Pinklao and Bang Plad areas has been continuously decreasing and is now well below the previous 50 centimeters.

From Baromratchonnanee intersection to the Tah Pra intersection, the water level is only 20 centimeters high, and there is no more runoff in some areas.

In the meantime, the water level on Charansanitwong Road going toward the Rama 7 bridge is as high as 50 centimeters, making cars still unable to pass.

The runoff water is turning black and smells quite bad.

The outbound lane of Baromratchonnanee Road and nearby communities has been covered by the runoff from Talingchan temple canal.

There is 20 centimeters of water in front of the Talingchan police station, while, the water level in Suan Pak, and Chimplee communities has risen to 1 meter.

Water from the Bangkok Noi canal is overflowing into many homes in Bang Khunnon area.

Talingchan police officers have conceded that the floods have been making their work more difficult.

Dead bodies have had to be delivered by boat to the police station so they could be identified.

It is also very difficult to bring cases to the Talingchan court due to the inundation.

And a number of seized motorcycles are under 20 centimeters of water as well.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-01

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Bangchan Industrial Estate Fights Flood

The Bangchan Industrial Estate in Minburi, Bangkok is fighting flooding with its current flood barriers at 50 centimeters above the approaching flood water.

The flood barriers have divided up the whole industrial park into 6 blocks.

If the flood water overflows across the barriers, roads should be able to block the water at an additional height of 50 centimeters.

The industrial estate has 93 factories producing furniture, auto parts and food, and employs 13,000 laborers. Total investment value is at 19.85 billion baht.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-01

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Thailand speeds up food imports

The Nation

Deputy Prime Minister and Commerce Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong promised speedy imports of food and drinking water, to ease the severe shortages in several parts of the country.

Referring to the Cabinet’s meeting this week, he said Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra instructed all to do their best in helping flood victims. Under the Commerce Ministry’s responsibility, shortages of food must be addressed.

He said that such items would be imported from Asean countries including 7 million eggs from Malaysia and Hong Kong. The ministry will also import 400,000 canned food and 1 million drinking water bottles. He expected all to arrive in Thailand within this week.

The first lot of imported eggs is now distributed in several venues including the Aor Tor Kor market. They are to be sold at no more than Bt4 apiece, as the price earlier escalated to Bt6-Bt9 due to tight supply and spiking demand.

He noted that the imports would be cut once the situation improves. The Agriculture Ministry is now coordinated for the even distribution of eggs.

-- The Nation 2011-11-01

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Minister: Big Mass of Water Lingers North of BKK

The science minister reveals that a large volume of water still remains north of Bangkok but he refuses to disclose more details, fearing the public will panic.

Science and Technology Minister Plodprasop Surasawadee, as operations director of the Flood Relief Operations Center, or FROC, said a large volume of water still remains north of Bangkok.

However, he refused to confirm or deny if the volume is eight billion cubic meters, as was stated in the news.

Plodprasop said this mass of water will have to be drained out to the sea.

He refused to comment whether this influx of water will add to the flood woes Bangkok is currently facing, saying he did not want to confuse the public.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-01

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Full resumption of power feed to industrial estates in 30 days

The Nation

The Provincial Electricity Authority is ready to resume full power supply to 7 inundated industrial estates in Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani within 30 days.

PEA Governor Narongsak Kamales said that initially, the 7 industrial estates need power to pump out massive water. Then, when the process is completed and factories are ready to resume operations, the full supply would be restored, likely in 30 days.

On Tuesday, Narongsak attended a meeting with representatives from the Federation of Thai Industries, Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand, and the 7 industrial estates. The estates are namely Rojana, Saha Rattana Nakorn, Hi-Tech, Bang Pa-in, Factory Land, Bangkadi and Nava Nakorn. They brainstormed over the rehabilitation process.

The representatives were informed that it would take 1 year and a half to restore Rojana Power Co Ltd’s 180MW power plant. Egat plans to feed power from its Wang Noi power plant to the industrial estate during the fixing period.

PEA reported that power demand from the manufacturing sector dropped by 498MW due to the floods. Nationwide, overall demand declined by 1,800MW.

The government last week announced that all inundated industrial estates should be ready for business resumption in December.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-01

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400 seniors at Bangkae elderly home being evacuated to Ratchaburi via 3 public buses in the next few days

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Central Ramindra closed indefinitely

Central Pattana Plc announced closure of Central Plaza Ramindra from October 31 due to the flooding in its surrounding areas.

The company will consider when to re-open the shopping centre.

-- The Nation 2011-11-01

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Science Minister Plodprasop says he has difficulties in liaising with BKK Metropolitan Admin concerning flood situation /TANN

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Floods Feared to Hit Bang Chan Industrial Estates

The Bangkok governor expresses concern that the Bang Chan area could become another flood-hit area if the drainage gates of canals 8 and 10 in Pathum Thani Province are not closed further.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra stated that the sea tide hit its peak today at 12.30 PM at 1.23 meters above the sea level.

Sukhumbhand said the rising sea tide pushed up the level of Chao Phraya River, which was measured at Pak Khlong Talad at 2.48 meters above the medium sea level.

He went on to say that the level of Chao Phraya river's tribubary in Ayutthaya's Bang Sai District today stayed at 4.07 meters from the medium sea level, down by 2 centemiters.

The governor stated that the volume of water measured at the driange gates of Khlong Song and Thaweewattana canals, which is flowing down the lower section of Hok Wah หกวา Canal, has already stabilized.

Sukhumbhand continued by saying that the levels in the Mahasawat and Bang Waek canals in Talingchan District, which has now been declared an evacuation zone, remain high, particulary the sections passing along the Bang Phai Subsdistrict and the nearby Bang Kae District.

The governor said the Flood Releif Operations Center has informed him that it cannot meet the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, or BMA 's, request to close down drainage gates of canals 8 and 10 in Pathum Thani's Rangsit District.

He said the BMA wanted them to close it to 30 centimeters higher than the water's surface, but residents from nearby communities came out and obstructed their attempts to close it.

He said if the gates of those two gates cannot be closed additionally, the overflow will hit Bang Chan area, where several industrial estates are located, more quickly.

He stated that the water levels in the canals above Prem Pracharkon, Bang Sue and Bang Khen and the level in Bang Chuek Nang Canal on the Thonburi side are swelling over thier embankments.

The governor stated that the level of a section of Bang Khen canal that runs alongside Prachachuen Road, a tribunary of Lad Prao Canal, passing in front of Lad Prao Temple, a canal near Buddha Monthon Sai 1 Road and a part of Bang Waek Canal connected to Thaweewattana canal, are still at the same level as the edge of the embankments.

He said the levels of water in other canals remain normal.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-01

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PM Assures Flood Victims of Govt's Help

The prime minister says measures have been taken to prevent important places from flooding while giving assurances that the government is working all the time to relieve people’s hardship.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra posted a message on her Facebook account, saying that the government has been working closely with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to help flood victims in Bangkok and the vicinity while instructing provincial governors to exhaustively take care of all the flood-hit residents.

Yingluck further said that the government has taken measures to prevent important places from being inundated.

She added that rescue officials have been dispatched to join flood-relief efforts at Chakri Bongkot Palace.

A brick wall has been built around Government House to block floodwater while the Metropolitan Police have deployed a number of officers to patrol homes in flood affected areas to protect victims' property.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-01

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Flood Donations Pour In from Provinces, Laos

Amid the current flooding disaster, Thais from all parts of the country, including people from neighboring countries are contributing to the flood relief efforts.

Governor of Laos's Savannakhet Province, Suphan Keomisay along with businesses and people from the Laotian province have donated drinking water, worth more than 253 million kip, or about one million baht, via the Thai Consulate in the province.

The drinking water has been passed on to the Governor of Mukdahan Province, Charnwit Wasayangkoon, who will distribute it to the flood-hit regions.

Meanwhile in Nong Khai Province, locals there transported 1,500 cases of a dozen bottles of drinking water and other supplies via rail to flood victims in Nonthaburi Province.

Tourism businesses in the provinces have also donated bags of essential items, drinking water and fresh vegetables to the flood-devastated Ayutthaya Province.

At the same time, the Loei Provincial Office of Buddhism has collected more than 100 bags of rice to assist the flood victims in the central provinces and areas around Bangkok.

Local administrative officials in Uttaradit Province have sent rice, non-perishable food items and drinking water on trucks to help those affected by the disaster in Nakhon Sawan Province.

Also, in Chumphon Province, the residents of the Sufficiency Economy Learning Center are hurriedly making effective microorganism balls, which will be used to treat polluted water.

So far, more than 100,000 balls have been made and will be sent to the flooded areas.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-01

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SEA Write awards presentation set for Nov 7 at Oriental Hotel postponed to Feb 2012. (02) 659 9000 #ThaiFloodEng @nationnews @lekasina

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RT @tulsathit: After Abhisit appeared disheveled helping flood victims yesterday, Chuwit immediately bettered that http://yfrog.com/kka56exj

RT @Tulip_Oum: 4pm water overflow fr LadPrao canal inside Soi Ratchada 36, 10-15cm-high.~@Reporter_js8 http://bit.ly/se8HAf

RT @tulsathit: To ppl whose homes have been flooded, don't forget to take pics of the flooded homes. Govt compensation fund being worked out

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Japan approves 1bn yen grant

The Nation

The Japanese government on Tuesday approved a grant of 1 billion yen (approximately Bt400 million) to help rehabilitate Thailand, according to a statement from the Embassy of Japan.

On Oct 10, Japan donated necessity items worth 30 million yen like tents and water filters through Japan International Cooperation Agency and another lot worth 28 million was approved on Oct 18. On Oct 14, on Asean’s request, Japan approved technical assistance from JICA experts.

-- The Nation 2011-11-01

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RT @Tulip_Oum: next high tide is at 8:34 this evening, lowest tide is at 4:09pm. (via @js100radio)

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Opposition to file motion to question PM about floods

The Nation

The opposition will on Wednesday submit an interpolation to question the prime minister on measures to deal with the flooding situation, chief opposition whip Jurin Laksanavisith said on Tuesday.

Jurin said about 30 opposition MPs wanted a debate on the flood situation. The opposition whips would therefore convene a meeting at 11am on Wednesday to define the framework for the debate, which would start in the afternoon.

He said the opposition would question Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on four points:

1) How to protect the areas that have not yet been flooded and how the government would provide correct information to the public

2) How to drain water from flooded areas fast

3) How to alleviate the suffering of flood victims; how to efficiently evacuate flood victims and how to tackle rising prices of consumer goods

4) How to rehabilitate the agricultural, industrial and social sectors systematically.

-- The Nation 2011-11-01

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School reopens in deep south amidst tight security

Students in Narathiwat province returned to their classes on Tuesday amidst tight security following a series of violent incidents in the deep south.

Joint forces of police and soldiers were deployed at 369 schools in 13 districts of the province on the first day of the second semester to provide security for teachers and students.

They will also escort the teachers and students to and from the schools and prevent any insurgents from disguising themselves and sneaking into the schools.

The five districts considered sensitive are Sri Sakorn, Ruesoh Joh I Rong Chanae and Rangae.

The forces also set up checkpoints on roads to screen suspicious vehicles and personnel.

The intensifying of the security arose from the belief that the insurgents could try to cause chaos on the first day of the new term to scare teachers and students and cause cancellations of classes.

The insurgents have intensified violent activities in the provinces of the deep south in the past weeks, resulting in deaths and injuries.

-- The Nation 2011-11-01

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Russian tourist attacked and robbed at gunpoint in South Pattaya

Follow this link:

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RT @veen_NT: The Mall closing time today: Ngamwongwan branch 8pm, Tha Phra 9pm and Bangkhae 5pm. via @MaMindiez

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SET index closed at 956.59, down 18.16; Bt/USD30.72; GBP48.92; AUD31.59; EUR41.90; CAD30.22; HKD3.95; SGD24.02; JPY39.13

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4.46pm Water from Klong Prapa spilling over under Prachanukul expressway toward Ratchadapisek ~ @js100radio

BKK-Nakornpathom train will be provided from Nov 2 to assist transportation. Departure from BKK 9:20am, from Nakornpathom 2:00pm ~ @Voice_TV

4:47pm Small vehicles now forbidden on roads around Kaset junction due to high flood ~ @js100radio

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Interior Minister Yongyuth to meet with BMA and Klongsamwa residents tomorrow to find solution to sluice gate opening /TANN

PM meets with BMA to come up with water drainage plan to prevent flooding with Sam Wa sluice gate now opened /TANN

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KBank's suspended branches resume services

The Nation

Kasikornbank has gradually resumed services of its branches closed during the big floods.

To date, four branches in Ayutthaya resumed services including one in Rojana Industrial Park and two branches in Nakhon Sawan.

It has also resumed services of unplugged ATMs. A number of 110 ATMs have resumed services so far. The bank did not state how many ATMs were unplugged.

-- The Nation 2011-11-01

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Transport Co to look into relocation of Morchit bus station if flooding there worsens /TANN