Bangkok: Day By Day, Waiting On Judgement Day

[webfact]

OVERDRIVE

Day by day, waiting on Judgement Day

Thanong Khanthong

As of today, about one fifth of Bangkok is under water.

Of 50 districts in the capital, eight are inundated and four are partly flooded. The remainder are under warning. The total area of the Thonburi side of Bangkok will be covered with water.

The tone of Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has been flip-flopping to create further confusion. Late last month she suggested that the worst would soon be over, with the peak of the sea tides on October 31. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) had also assured us that Bangkok districts would be safe. There had to be dry areas in Bangkok, otherwise the capital would no longer function.

But as the situation was about to improve, there were jolts. The BMA had to seek help from 400 metropolitan police officers to guard Khlong Sam Wa from being harassed by local residents who wanted to open the water gates wider to reduce the flooding in their community. Yingluck signed an order on October 31 that technically chained Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra to the ground. The BMA was ordered to open the sluice gate to let water flow into the capital. This would presumably help relieve the trauma of the residents around Khlong Sam Wa in northeastern Bangkok. Khlong Saen Saeb, which runs through the heart of Bangkok to the Chao Phraya River in the west and Khlong Phrakhanong to the south, would have to take in more water from this critical decision. There would be risk of spillover floods from Khlong Saen Saeb.

Bangkok has had ample time to prepare for the floods. The public have been informed all along that the government would be trying to save the capital by trying to divert water to the eastern and western parts of the city to save inner Bangkok. As of now, the water can't be channelled to the eastern side, which is located on higher ground. The excuse is that there is not enough equipment or water pumps to handle the task. Therefore, the authorities will have to rely on Khlong Sam Wa to channel the water down into the capital, which will have to take in its share of the floods.

Almost all of a sudden, Bangchan Industrial Estate, Lad Krabang Industrial Estate and Suvarnabhumi International Airport - in this strict order - have come under threat of flooding. Water has begun to seep into Bangchan from underground pipes and the sewage system. Don Muang Airport has already been lost to the floods. If Suvarnabhumi Airport were to be shut down, Thailand would be in complete ruin.

Late on Wednesday evening, vandals destroyed 17 points in the dykes protecting the water works canal, the source of tapped water that almost 10 million Bangkokians rely on for drinking and other consumption. This was bordering on espionage. If the authorities fail to protect the water works canal, the capital will be doomed. Already, the Metropolitan Water Works Authority has been forced to cut back its tapped water production by 10 per cent, from 4.7 to 4.2 million cubic metres a day.

Adding to the panic in the capital was a news story that 15 venomous African mamba snakes had reportedly escaped from a flooded building in Nonthaburi. Veterinarians are hunting them down. Vaccines from Japan have to be imported in case anyone is bitten by one of these snakes. Whether this story is true or not remains to be seen. But it has increased panic among Bangkokians on top of the thousands of crocodiles which have been let loose from farms due to the floods in the lower northern and central regions.

According to Dr Anon Snitwongse, a water expert from Chulalongkorn University, some 10 billion cubic metres of water still stretches from Sukhothai to lower Bangkok. Of this, seven billion cubic metres is concentrated in the east, with the remaining three billion in the west. Bangkok is under threat of flooding from some 3-4 billion cubic metres of water, which has to go south into the canals, rivers and eventually to the sea.

The flood disaster could have been prevented if the water had been released in time from dams in the North. There could be worms in the Irrigation Department. The water was blocked from being diverted to the Tha Chin River in the west. As a result, the Chao Phraya River was the only main course that the water could flow down. The water was also prevented from flowing to Prachin Buri in the east, leaving it to flow and hang on in the central region and now Bangkok. The water could not be diverted to Min Buri either.

Mismanagement on this scale cannot be coincidental. Every step of the way, the government fumbles and the situation gets worse. There are hopes only to be followed by despair. The stress and trauma of people living in flooded Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani have worsened. Bangkokians are living by the day, as if they are waiting for Judgement Day.

As districts fall one by one to the floods, the authorities will cut off the water supply and electricity. At one point, we might see a rush out of Bangkok, similar to previous weeks when Bangkokians travelled down south and east to Chon Buri and Pattaya. Many have now returned to Bangkok since the public holiday is not extended.

The mismanagement of this whole affair appears to follow a scenario of total disaster. Once the capital runs out of food, drinking water, electricity and the possible breakdown of communications, we can kiss Bangkok goodbye. By that time, we will forever lose our capital.

-- The Nation 2011-11-04

[Poke]

You say Mamba and I say Mamboo

You say Tomata and I say Tomatoo!

Would never leave Bangkok! Even if we have "the possible breakdown of communication".

[Gippy]

Forever lose the capital? Bit dramatic. My cleaning supplies are stacked up in the in-laws house and we will be back to clean home and business once the water goes down.

[GentlemanJim]

Late on Wednesday evening, vandals destroyed 17 points in the dykes protecting the water works canal, the source of tapped water that almost 10 million Bangkokians rely on for drinking and other consumption. This was bordering on espionage.

???? Is this bordering on espionage? Or is it sabotage?

A very drama Queenish type article. Gippy has the right idea, a few bottles of bleach a bit of elbow grease and then crack on.

[Bakseedaa]

And the "vandals" breaking down the flood barriers, by any chance were they wearing Red Shirts..? We already know how much those guys love Bangkok and Bangkokians...

[webfact]

Khlong Prapa 'sabotaged' again (Bangkok Post)

[nurofiend]

"Once the capital runs out of food, drinking water, electricity and the possible breakdown of communications, we can kiss Bangkok goodbye. By that time, we will forever lose our capital."

the OP should just get it over with it and walk the streets wearing a 'the end is nigh' sign while he rings a bell.

[ResX]

With due respect and full of goodwill:

Thailand has to prepare all its dams to "arrest" between 18-20billion cubic meter of flood water between end of Sept to mid Nov every year to ensure flood risk can be kept below 2%. The "warrant for arrest" shall be made valid for at least 30days. This statement is referring to the flood associated with the Choa Phraya catchment alone. If this risk has yet acceptably small then what it need to do is to increase the amount of water to be "arrested" appropriately. Technically speaking, just name how small the flood risk that you want it to be, the flood control & mitigation engineers shall be able to come up with the flood control & mitigation system that can provide the desired risk. And obviously with additional cost. Normal design flood risk for a big town is kept around 0.5%. For a small to moderate town it could range between 1-2%.

Thailand needs the new approach to "see and understand" the might force of nature that is called flood. Why? By the 1st October 2011, using Bhumibol as a sample, the flood risk was approaching 100%. The fact that the risk had gradually increased from <2% from as early as July to almost 100% by 1st October. By 1st October, technically speaking, the dam had already been beaten by future flood since it did not have any reserve space to fill up the flood water, whereas the monsoon had yet over.

Yes, there is enough time for the dam management to react before the coming of flood if the management is provided with a comprehensive operational objectives for its dam. I think, at least for this year there was one missing operational objective for most of the dams in Thailand, namely, to provide reserve space for flood control. Unfortunately, this missing thing dominated the event this year.

Note: I made my reference to Bangkok Post. One of its articles described how Bhuminbol dam water level had gradually increased from as early as in July 2011.

Edited November 4, 2011 by ResX

[DrKillpatient]

BANGKOK BREAKING FLOOD NEWS!!!! Due to the total ineptness of local and national administrations panic buying by many locals Bangkok residents are warned they may now not be at any one time 3 meters away from a prat

[dude007]

You say Mamba and I say Mamboo

You say Tomata and I say Tomatoo!

Would never leave Bangkok! Even if we have "the possible breakdown of communication".

Ever seen a black mamba? And don't hope then that it is a mamboo...

[Sirdar]

And the "vandals" breaking down the flood barriers, by any chance were they wearing Red Shirts..? We already know how much those guys love Bangkok and Bangkokians...

This aboutthe daftest comment have seen for some time. The red shirts could question whether the mismanegement of the water system was sabotage. Done to embaress the government If it was I wonder who?

[dude007]

With due respect and full of goodwill:

Thailand has to prepare all its dams to "arrest" between 18-20billion cubic meter of flood water between end of Sept to mid Nov every year to ensure flood risk can be kept below 2%. The "warrant for arrest" shall be made valid for at least 30days. This statement is referring to the flood associated with the Choa Phraya catchment alone. If this risk has yet acceptably small then what it need to do is to increase the amount of water to be "arrested" appropriately. Technically speaking, just name how small the flood risk that you want it to be, the flood control & mitigation engineers shall be able to come up with the flood control & mitigation system that can provide the desired risk. And obviously with additional cost. Normal design flood risk for a big town is kept around 0.5%. For a small to moderate town it could range between 1-2%.

Thailand needs the new approach to "see and understand" the might force of nature that is called flood. Why? By the 1st October 2011, using Bhumibol as a sample, the flood risk was approaching 100%. The fact that the risk had gradually increased from <2% from as early as July to almost 100% by 1st October. By 1st October, technically speaking, the dam had already been beaten by future flood since it did not have any reserve space to fill up the flood water, whereas the monsoon had yet over.

Yes, there is enough time for the dam management to react before the coming of flood if the management is provided with a comprehensive operational objectives for its dam. I think, at least for this year there was one missing operational objective for most of the dams in Thailand, namely, to provide reserve space for flood control. Unfortunately, this missing thing dominated the event this year.

Note: I made my reference to Bangkok Post. One of its articles described how Bhuminbol dam water level had gradually increased from as early as in July 2011.

You're perfectly right. And by the way, this ariticle about the Bhumibol and Sirikit dam is the proof that EGAT is responsible indeed for the actual deluge, the Government of course as well as they believe they don't have to listen to anyone else unless to themselves and to some of the "hot" red shirts aiming destruction of dikes and sluices to protect, in an act of well-known Thai solidarity, their OWN homes... Bangkok doesn't need water anymore now. The fires at the Rachaphrasong area are already extinguished...

[Xonax]

And the "vandals" breaking down the flood barriers, by any chance were they wearing Red Shirts..? We already know how much those guys love Bangkok and Bangkokians...

Of course, but some wearing different color outside as a disguise. These Red Shirt terrorists will never give up! They really hate Bangkok. Last year they tried to burn down the city and this year they do everything they can to flood and contaminate it. They will not give up untill Bangkok has been destroyed. They just don´t realise, that without Bangkok, they will be suffering too, as Bangkok is generating most of their means of living, how humble it may be.

[Babcock]

Late on Wednesday evening, vandals destroyed 17 points in the dykes protecting the water works canal, the source of tapped water that almost 10 million Bangkokians rely on for drinking and other consumption. This was bordering on espionage.

???? Is this bordering on espionage? Or is it sabotage?

A very drama Queenish type article. Gippy has the right idea, a few bottles of bleach a bit of elbow grease and then crack on.

Absoluterly :D

and yet;

"Khlong Saen Saeb, which runs through the heart of Bangkok to the Chao Phraya River in the west and Khlong Phra khanong to the south, would have to take in more water from this critical decision. There would be risk of spillover floods from Khlong Saen Saeb."

This I still don't understand. On another forum page someone mentioned that Saen Saeb water levels are lower than during the drought. Near us Khlong Phra khanong, that leads down to the river, the water is static and at the same level. Why is it not flowing into the river? Are there blockages, buildings etc. Out to the east there are a lot of illegal developments blocking the water passage.

Oh dear.

[robokop]

Forever lose the capital? Bit dramatic. My cleaning supplies are stacked up in the in-laws house and we will be back to clean home and business once the water goes down.

May not be that dramatic. Without safe drinking water, power, food etc. and if the major airport is flooded, it's main runways will be under mined, meaning major reconstruction on the runways. A simple cleanup will not resolve the major problems that Bangkok is now facing and maybe more coming.

[robokop]

And the "vandals" breaking down the flood barriers, by any chance were they wearing Red Shirts..? We already know how much those guys love Bangkok and Bangkokians...

Of course, but some wearing different color outside as a disguise. These Red Shirt terrorists will never give up! They really hate Bangkok. Last year they tried to burn down the city and this year they do everything they can to flood and contaminate it. They will not give up untill Bangkok has been destroyed. They just don´t realise, that without Bangkok, they will be suffering too, as Bangkok is generating most of their means of living, how humble it may be.

Was it not the Yellow Shirts that shut down the airports in Bangkok and caused such major economic losses to the people in Bangkok and Thailand. I remember Pattaya turned into a ghost town for awhile.

[Babcock]

And the "vandals" breaking down the flood barriers, by any chance were they wearing Red Shirts..? We already know how much those guys love Bangkok and Bangkokians...

Of course, but some wearing different color outside as a disguise. These Red Shirt terrorists will never give up! They really hate Bangkok. Last year they tried to burn down the city and this year they do everything they can to flood and contaminate it. They will not give up untill Bangkok has been destroyed. They just don´t realise, that without Bangkok, they will be suffering too, as Bangkok is generating most of their means of living, how humble it may be.

Of course. You're absolutely right. There it is in a nutshell. Simple really.

[Babcock]

And the "vandals" breaking down the flood barriers, by any chance were they wearing Red Shirts..? We already know how much those guys love Bangkok and Bangkokians...

From another thread

"Support and a scolding for Yingluck on flood tour"

"Yingluck also said that according to Flood Relief Operations Centre chief Pracha Promnok, flood barriers at Klong Papa had not been damaged by people, but had simply worn away.

Up to 17 vulnerable spots along the flood barriers were detected on Wednesday night and authorities had restored them all by yesterday."

[chmiroau]

Ha!. You guys have got it all wrong, I don't know why no one has seen this before. While all the speculation and rumours are flowing (sometimes faster and more prevalent than the flood itself), the Shinawatra building dynasty is preparing for the biggest rebuild of Thailand in history.

Can you just see it. Shinawatra building sites all over the country busily rebuilding and repairing Bangkok, all the while filtering public money back into their back pockets.

[Credo]

I think the people that are tearing down flood barriers are people who are tired of being up to their rear end in water. I don't think it's related to a shirt color or politics.

[jayboy]

And the "vandals" breaking down the flood barriers, by any chance were they wearing Red Shirts..? We already know how much those guys love Bangkok and Bangkokians...

This aboutthe daftest comment have seen for some time. The red shirts could question whether the mismanegement of the water system was sabotage. Done to embaress the government If it was I wonder who?

He also overlooks that nearly half the voting population of Bangkok opted for the party closely associated with the redshirts

[nurofiend]

Ha!. You guys have got it all wrong, I don't know why no one has seen this before. While all the speculation and rumours are flowing (sometimes faster and more prevalent than the flood itself), the Shinawatra building dynasty is preparing for the biggest rebuild of Thailand in history.

Can you just see it. Shinawatra building sites all over the country busily rebuilding and repairing Bangkok, all the while filtering public money back into their back pockets.

do you really think they are THAT evil minded?

i mean what solid evidence have you to suggest that they are that inhumane to everyone in the country

the only the things i can think of that you could put forward as inhumane, is the south in which he was indirectly responsible for tragic events due to his policies and thaksins drug war, which i'm sure he did have a "&lt;deleted&gt; em, kill em, they're only scum" attitude, and that's something he deserves to be loathed for imho....unfortunately a lot of the country had the same attitude judging by its popularity.

so yeah it was a horrible thing to do to what were deemed as criminals, and a lot of who were killed weren't criminals/addicts/dealers, tho i don't hold thaksin directly responsible for those but it certainly was his policy that caused it... so he was indirectly responsible, as they wouldn't have happened if this crackdown on drugs hadn't been implemented.

but to answer you...

no i can't just see it, the way you put it sounds like they're rubbing their hands and laughing at the countries population saying :

"ha ha bleed them dry of whatever they have left and make more money as we rebuild on top of it...

to hell with them all, hopefully we'll have another natural disaster when we make our profits from this..

sorry did i say 'natura'l LoL i meant man made obviously.....muahahahaha" *champagne glasses clink*

seriously, do you genuinely think they're pure evil and don't have an ounce of care for the people of Thailand?

and you're perfectly entitled to think that if it's your opinion.

[nurofiend]

And the "vandals" breaking down the flood barriers, by any chance were they wearing Red Shirts..? We already know how much those guys love Bangkok and Bangkokians...

This aboutthe daftest comment have seen for some time. The red shirts could question whether the mismanegement of the water system was sabotage. Done to embaress the government If it was I wonder who?

He also overlooks that nearly half the voting population of Bangkok opted for the party closely associated with the redshirts

you're forgetting that the red shirts are one neat organization all falling unquestionably under the one set of orders, with the exact same extremely simplistic views, each and every one.

they all hate bangkok... even the ones that live there.

[FWIW]

I think the people that are tearing down flood barriers are people who are tired of being up to their rear end in water. I don't think it's related to a shirt color or politics.

Indeed, I think all shirts are pretty much the same colour when they are soaked to the neck in what is essentially shit soup.

[gl555]

During crisis like these, the Army should be mobilised to protect the key areas from vandals and sabotage. But what do we get? A big fat NOTHING. What a useless Prime Minister we have. But that's been said countless times before. Useless idiot.

[Publicus]

Forever lose the capital? Bit dramatic. My cleaning supplies are stacked up in the in-laws house and we will be back to clean home and business once the water goes down.

May not be that dramatic. Without safe drinking water, power, food etc. and if the major airport is flooded, it's main runways will be under mined, meaning major reconstruction on the runways. A simple cleanup will not resolve the major problems that Bangkok is now facing and maybe more coming.

The goalpost timeframes for the waters to recede keep being moved, from more days to more weeks - and we can plainly see we're looking at many months and a need for more than Mr Clean in the shed. I'm out in the sticks of the former LOS, which is to say I'm high and dry. But as I'd expected, a trip to Tesco Lotus Monday burned a hole in our pocket and had us wandering among half-stocked shelves. Half the water available was in cups you'd take on an outing to the forest - the cups you stick a straw through their covered tops. The beef was awful looking remnants at twice the price.

In some African countries drought has devestated the land, people, economy. These extremely severe floods being handled by these ad hoc political party hacks who are interested in only one person (abroad) increasingly make this emergency begin to look like a coming catastrophe.

Edited November 4, 2011 by Publicus

[Publicus]

During crisis like these, the Army should be mobilised to protect the key areas from vandals and sabotage. But what do we get? A big fat NOTHING. What a useless Prime Minister we have. But that's been said countless times before. Useless idiot.

Where's Thailand's Aung San Suu Kyi?

Where's Thailand's Nobel Peace Prize laureate to inspire and lead it?

Where's Thailand going?

[gl555]

During crisis like these, the Army should be mobilised to protect the key areas from vandals and sabotage. But what do we get? A big fat NOTHING. What a useless Prime Minister we have. But that's been said countless times before. Useless idiot.

Where's Thailand's Aung San Suu Kyi?

Where's Thailand's Nobel Peace Prize laureate to inspire and lead it?

Where's Thailand going?

He hasn't been born yet and it's going straight to Hell because misguided people voted for the wrong party.

[block2]

The messiah will return from is holiday in Dubai....and there will be a new capital city...Chang Mai...feel sorry for all in Bangkok and further a field....cor the shit that is headed your way...swampy..is going to be swamped and pattya beach .....is pattaya beach..but gonna be full of more filth

[aurelius]

Ha!. You guys have got it all wrong, I don't know why no one has seen this before. While all the speculation and rumours are flowing (sometimes faster and more prevalent than the flood itself), the Shinawatra building dynasty is preparing for the biggest rebuild of Thailand in history.

Can you just see it. Shinawatra building sites all over the country busily rebuilding and repairing Bangkok, all the while filtering public money back into their back pockets.

Totally agree! If you can see the flood recovery becoming a massive trojan horse for a whole bunch (800 bn bt) of pre-existing formerly TRT policies then - the question is - is it mainly opportunistic, or was it a more deliberate move. Scary. Certain ministers are emerging actors as this whole saga.. keep an eye on them.