'Big Bag' Holds Key To Ending Bangkok's Flood Crisis

[webfact]

'Big Bag' holds key to ending city crisis

Janjara Pongrai,

Prapasri Osathanon

The Nation

Disaster expert Dr Arnon Sanidwong na Ayudhaya said yesterday that if work on the Rangsit-Muang Ek "Big Bag" embankment was completed by Friday, Bangkok's Don Muang, Lak Si and Bang Khen districts would be dry in seven days.

However, Thon Buri residents would face a month of floods and should therefore be prepared, he added.

Following yesterday's Cabinet meeting, PM's Office spokeswoman Thitima Chaisaeng reported that water levels were under control, with the Chao Phraya River flowing at 3,195 cubic metres per second in Nakhon Sawan on Monday and Ayutthaya's Asia Highway returned to normal. She added that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, following her order that the Khlong Sam Wa sluice gate be opened by a metre, had said that if they could get through this week, everything would be alright.

Arnon, director of the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency, said that flood levels in Don Muang, Lak Si and Bang Khen were stable, although the water was spreading. The "Big Bag" barrier would stop more water pouring in, he said, but as the Rama 9 drainage tunnel was so far away, it could take another week for the area to dry. However, western Bangkok's Thon Buri would face another month of flooding from Khlong Mahasawat, which is helping drain the inundation from Ayutthaya, he said.

This week, the Royal Irrigation Department will repair floodwalls from Ayutthaya down to Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi, so the next round of high tides should be dealt with more effectively. Arnon said that if they could get through the high tides mid and late November, most areas would start to dry and could begin the process of rehabilitation.

In his capacity as secretary for the committee for water management in flood-hit areas, Arnon said that about 12,000 million cubic metres of water remained in farmland from Sukhothai southwards while only 3,000 million cubic metres were flowing in rivers and canals to Bangkok, with a total of 4,000 million cubic metres already drained into the Gulf of Thailand.

Arnon said that unless there was heavy rainfall in the North, water levels would rise at stable and slow rates.

The National Flood Relief Operation Centre (FROC) dispatched officials and soldiers to build the 3.5-metre-long U-shape "Big Bag" floodwall from the mount of Premprachakorn Canal to Pathum Thani's Tambon Lak Hok on Monday night with expectations that work be completed by yesterday to prevent floodwater pouring into the waterworks canal and also stall strong-current floodwater from flowing through Bangkok's Don Muang district. The flow of floodwater from Rangsit Canal through Paholyothin Road was stable at less than 15 million cubic metres per day and the canal level was decreasing by 1cm per day. If the water level in the canal reduced to 50cm, most of Bangkok would be safe, he added.

With Klong Sam Wa sluice gate lifted, officials could now control water via the Khlong 8 and Khlong 9 sluice gates, hence people would experience slight flooding, Arnon said. Yingluck urged officials to tackle the crisis systematically and to control water at key spots so that levels would not exceed the critical marks, while implementing the Royal Irrigation Department's measures.

-- The Nation 2011-11-02

[Ponbkk]

Can anyone tell me how significant the difference might be between the VOLUME of water (per day, whatever) overall drained through the river at high tide peaks (like last Saturday) and current tidal lows (sometime within the next week?)?

[marquess]

If they are doing anything to alleviate the flooding in the North of Bangkok, that has to be good news for everybody, as the it is the Northern waters that are gradually moving through the city. It looks like I will be under water for another week or so.

[BlackJack]

all that dirty water flowing into the gulf

has the government warned people not to eat seafood or swim in the ocean or is this to difficult

[SICHONSTEVE]

If they are doing anything to alleviate the flooding in the North of Bangkok, that has to be good news for everybody, as the it is the Northern waters that are gradually moving through the city. It looks like I will be under water for another week or so.

"However, Thon Buri residents would face a month of floods and should therefore be prepared, he added".

I'm not sure that the residents of Thon Buri will appreciate this "kind of throw-away comment" too much. It's like "being thrown to the crocodiles" - literally, in this case!!!:jap:.

[Changnoi2]

all that dirty water flowing into the gulf

has the government warned people not to eat seafood or swim in the ocean or is this to difficult

Why would you need a Government to tell you that? Its common sense.

[DocN]

all that dirty water flowing into the gulf

has the government warned people not to eat seafood or swim in the ocean or is this to difficult

Why would you need a Government to tell you that? Its common sense.

Yeah right! So TELL THEM, for Christs sake!

[avalonmick]

all that dirty water flowing into the gulf

has the government warned people not to eat seafood or swim in the ocean or is this to difficult

Why would you need a Government to tell you that? Its common sense.

Yeah right! So TELL THEM, for Christs sake!

Exactly. Three neighbours [get this american spell checker off!!!] in hospital last week after eating "fresh" crab.

But think how clean the streets will be, for a day or two.

[robsamui]

all that dirty water flowing into the gulf

has the government warned people not to eat seafood or swim in the ocean or is this to difficult

Why would you need a Government to tell you that? Its common sense.

Yeah right! So TELL THEM, for Christs sake!

Exactly. Three neighbours [get this american spell checker off!!!] in hospital last week after eating "fresh" crab.

But think how clean the streets will be, for a day or two.

Often wondered that. With the founder and the CEO (I think) being Brit, you'd think they'd install a proper spell-checker.

- sorry!

R

Edited November 2, 2011 by robsamui

[Just1Voice]

all that dirty water flowing into the gulf

has the government warned people not to eat seafood or swim in the ocean or is this to difficult

Why would you need a Government to tell you that? Its common sense.

Thailand - Common Sense

[khaowong1]

Space technology director. wow. can you imagine Somchai out in space? :-)

[letitbe]

all that dirty water flowing into the gulf

has the government warned people not to eat seafood or swim in the ocean or is this to difficult

Why would you need a Government to tell you that? Its common sense.

Thailand - Common Sense

you beat me to it

[Lite Beer]

Big sandbags to stem northern overflow to capital

BANGKOK, Nov 2 - In an attempt to curb the deluge from the north from overflowing into inner Bangkok, operations using 2.5 tonne sandbags are up and running with the levee length to be extended to five kilometres at Chulalongkorn sluice gate and expected to be finished by tomorrow, according to Transport Minister Sukumpol Suwanatat.

The action is expected to reduce water overflowing into two key roads, Phaholyothin and Vibhavadi, as well as Khlong Prapa, the main source of tap water in the capital and neighbouring provinces, he said.

Don Mueang Airport, the city's old airport on Vibhavadi Road, was forced to close operations and domestic flight services after weeks of being submerged under more than one metre deep water. The government's Flood Relief Operations Centre, which used the airport as its base, was relocated to Ministry of Energy headquarters.

Deputy Bangkok Governor Pornthep Thechapaiboon said he hoped that the situation would improve by Friday if the operations finish as scheduled.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa reiterated the need to speed up salvaging flooded Don Mueang airport by Friday to restore the country's image. The Royal Thai Air Force, he said, was the main agency tasked to coordinate with Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to carry out the mission.

The Royal Thai Army would be asked to lend a helping hand if needed. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-11-02

[rogerdee123]

Space technology director. wow. can you imagine Somchai out in space? :-)

Maybe spaced-out

[siampolee]

Might the space referred to be possibly, " between some of the , "experts" ears perchance ?"

"Experts". Those that know very little about a great deal. Other than, " Specialists." Who know a great deal about very little.

Edited November 2, 2011 by siampolee

[saengsureeya]

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa reiterated the need to speed up salvaging flooded Don Mueang airport by Friday to restore the country's image.

Some bugger tries to restore the countries' image. Poor soul!

[monty1412]

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa reiterated the need to speed up salvaging flooded Don Mueang airport by Friday to restore the country's image.

Some bugger tries to restore the countries' image. Poor soul!

here in Singapore at present and on local MRT we zoom by an empty underground stataion. I turn to my colleague and ask him why it was empty.. he said ohh they don't plan to open that for 5 years

Is their any possibility we could ask the singapore government to run Thailand for awhile.. keep it Thai but just make sure infrastructure is in place and run it efficiently.

Even rename the Singaporean ministers in Thailand as Somchai1 somchai 2 etc etc.

[eastlight]

all that dirty water flowing into the gulf

has the government warned people not to eat seafood or swim in the ocean or is this to difficult

Why would you need a Government to tell you that? Its common sense.

Common sense - here in Thailand? How long have you been here?

[thaibeachlovers]

all that dirty water flowing into the gulf

has the government warned people not to eat seafood or swim in the ocean or is this to difficult

Not a chance of that happening. Fishermen have to sell fish or starve ( or has Thailand suddenly become a welfare state ) and how can anyone tell the difference between fish from a clean area, and from a dirty area?

[rogerdee123]

all that dirty water flowing into the gulf

has the government warned people not to eat seafood or swim in the ocean or is this to difficult

Not a chance of that happening. Fishermen have to sell fish or starve ( or has Thailand suddenly become a welfare state ) and how can anyone tell the difference between fish from a clean area, and from a dirty area?

You're right .... once them fish and crap ... ooops I mean crab ,,, are smothered in Nam Pla and Prik Kii Nu they are still aroy maak maa!

Besides that, the Chaopraya has been dumping polluted water into the Gulf 24/7 since the invention of chemical pesticides.

[scotto]

I knew it finally its out

The big bag (of tricks)

lets see who waves the magic wand now?

[Changnoi2]

6 years. people with common sense wont go for a swim or eat seafood no matter where you are in the world.

all that dirty water flowing into the gulf

has the government warned people not to eat seafood or swim in the ocean or is this to difficult

Why would you need a Government to tell you that? Its common sense.

Common sense - here in Thailand? How long have you been here?

[rogerdee123]

I must admit when I first saw the heading for this thread, I thought maybe they were talking about Big Jiew.

[mommysboy]

I knew it finally its out

The big bag (of tricks)

lets see who waves the magic wand now?

This big bag, is it full of sand?, because it sounds like they are full of .... something else!

[sirchai]

Can anyone tell me how significant the difference might be between the VOLUME of water (per day, whatever) overall drained through the river at high tide peaks (like last Saturday) and current tidal lows (sometime within the next week?)?

. "She added that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, following her order that the Khlong Sam Wa sluice gate be opened by a metre, had said that if they could get through this week, everything would be alright."

There's not much to say......

[sirchai]

I knew it finally its out

The big bag (of tricks)

lets see who waves the magic wand now?

This big bag, is it full of sand?, because it sounds like they are full of .... something else!

SHIT? ( Some Hilarious Intelligent <deleted>)....

[nickynomates]

All the sand laying around after this is finished we can turn Bangkok in to one big beach resort.

[Tanaka]

Space technology director. wow. can you imagine Somchai out in space? :-)

expert Dr Arnon Sanidwong na Ayudhaya, exam from the university of Moldavia. He is well trained and fit for venture into space. Thailand has an extensive space research programme with many experts, did you not know? They are very bright. Just look at the evening of Loy Kratong in about a week.

[rubl]

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Yutthasak Sasiprapa reiterated the need to speed up salvaging flooded Don Mueang airport by Friday to restore the country's image. The Royal Thai Air Force, he said, was the main agency tasked to coordinate with Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to carry out the mission.

...

"I have assigned the air force chief to pump out water from Don Mueang airport's taxiways and runways before Friday," Defence Minister General Yuthasak Sasiprapa told reporters.

THe other newspaper has an item from 08:01 PM saying that Dr Seri Supranit does not agree with the idea of draining water out of Don Mueang airport as it would not help the situation, better let the airport act as a water retention area for 10 million cubic metres right now. He also said that even if the military could drain off Don Mueang and planes could land there, it would be useless as long as Viphavadi Rd. outside was still inundated and draining water out of the airport would make it even harder for people in Don Mueang who have been suffering from the flood for weeks now.

Somehow it doesn't look like things are improving yet, now does it

Edited November 2, 2011 by rubl

[IsaanUSA]

The flow of floodwater from Rangsit Canal through Paholyothin Road was stable at less than 15 million cubic metres per day and the canal level was decreasing by 1cm per day. If the water level in the canal reduced to 50cm, most of Bangkok would be safe, he added.

So wouldn't this take 50 days to happen? Did I miss the part that said the canal is at 57cm (or whatever) currently?