More Evacuations Loom In Flood Hit Bangkok

[webfact]

More evacuations loom

The Nation

Chatuchak, Phasi Charoen, Nong Khaem, Nong Chok, Min Buri get orders; BMA gets more pumps

Chatuchak district in centralnorth Bangkok, Phasi Charoen and Nong Khaem districts in the capital's west and Nong Chok and Min Buri in the east yesterday joined the list of districts ordered to be evacuated by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

Chatuchak - which houses the headquarters of the new government Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) and the Mor Chit 2 bus terminal - is directly north of Victory Monument in Phaya Thai district and the Din Daeng expressway exit. Both landmarks are now under threat from the flood water, which yesterday spread farther down Phaholyothin Road and the VibhavadiRangsit highway.

In Nong Chok district, selected tambon at greatest risk of flooding were told to evacuate, with residents in the remaining areas advised to stay alert and prepare for immediate relocation, Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said at a press conference.

Eleven Bangkok districts have now been ordered to evacuate in full, including Phasi Charoen and Nong Khaem, along with the residents of the worstaffected parts of Nong Chok.

The flood water level at FROC inside the Energy Complex near the Lat Phrao intersection reached 20 cm, but the site is being continually drained. The compound is surrounded by an 80cmhigh flood barrier, and is on alert to evacuate in the event that the barriers break, but the government said it has no plan as yet to relocate FROC again.

Certain areas and tambon in Thon Buri, Lat Phrao and Min Buri districts have been placed under special observation to watch for flash floods.

Sukhumband yesterday thanked Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for removing bureaucratic red tape that had earlier prevented water pumps from being delivered to the BMA by skipping the usual multistep procedures, and for mediating in a dispute between the city authority and the Royal Irrigation Department. As a result, the BMA has been able to double the number of water pumps installed around the city to 24.

The governor said stagnant flood water was likely to remain in the city for a month barring further rain or deluges of runoff water. "All the BMA can do now is to heighten relief operations, as it is not possible to drain all the flood water out of the capital immediately," he said.

"But if more flood water arrives, the problem will remain with us," he added.

An entire section of Phaholyothin Road from the fiveway Lat Phrao intersection to the Saphan Khwai area is now fully inundated, while the flood water has spread eastward to Soi Lat Phrao 45, prompting closure of traffic from there to the Ratchadaphisek intersection. Motorists have been advised to avoid travelling on Ratchaphruek Road from Bang Waek canal to Phetkasem Road.

The military and business operators based in the Bang Chan industrial estate are working day and night to prevent flooding there, as water is leaking in through the compound wall from the swollen adjacent Lor Lae canal, while nearby Saen Saeb canal remains full to the brim. All factories in the compound remain open, but some have reduced their production level in preparation for possible evacuation of staff and machinery.

Around 30 per cent of military vehicles - most of them trucks - employed in floodrelief efforts have broken down due to constant use in badly flooded areas. Defence Minister Yuthasak Sasiprapha yesterday called on the Bangkok Mass Transit Authority to resume city bus services in minimally flooded areas or those that have been drained.

"City buses may also be used additionally with military trucks in areas that are badly - but not entirely - flooded, while the brokendown military trucks undergo repairs and maintenance," he said.

Transport Minister Sukampol Suwannathat said Route 340 from Taling Chan to Bang Bua Thong would be preserved as the main road to the South if flooding of Rama II Road cannot be prevented. The government has yet to make a final decision on a proposal that parts of Rama II be blown open by explosives to quickly drain flood water to estuaries in the area.

Yingluck earlier dispatched six FROCorganised caravans of relief supplies to residents stranded in flooded homes: three were sent to Bangkok areas and one each to Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Nakhon Pathom. Along with relief supplies, medical and veterinary services, rafts and boats, mobile toilets and free repairs from volunteer mechanics were also provided.

FROC has initiated a policy of pairing 18 provinces that have been spared flooding with 18 inundated districts of Bangkok to provide food and assistance to those in need when requested. A plan is underway to set up a central kitchen in Bangkok to continually provide freshly cooked meals to floodaffected residents.

The Public Health Ministry said it had opened 776 shelters capable of accommodating 188,000 evacuees.

-- The Nation 2011-11-07

[johnefallis]

Wow, I am impressed. Hopefully it all passes without too much tragedy.

[anterian]

Now that the Bangkok Governor has swallowed his pride and is working with yingluck instead of against her, things should get better.

[whybother]

Now that the Bangkok Governor has swallowed his pride and is working with yingluck instead of against her, things should get better.

When was he working against her? They have both been working towards protecting Bangkok "at all costs".

[webfact]

RT @ThanongK: Sukhumbhand has written four letters to Irrigation Dept asking for water pumps. No reply.

RT @ThanongK: Even pro-government Thai Rath is running out of patience now.

[Thai at Heart]

Presumably the FROC will relocate to Suvanabhumi next. The moment they go there, there will be an exodus from the place.

Do they think by putting their offices directly in the line of the water they will somehow move the water with the power of thought.

[noitom]

Maybe the floods can be controlled at this point. Now we'll see hoe they handle and coordinate the massive cleanup of contamination and bacteria. let's see if they recognize the massive health distater that needs attention and how they marshall resources to deal with population dislocation. The water is one thing. The people are another.

[Thai at Heart]

Maybe the floods can be controlled at this point. Now we'll see hoe they handle and coordinate the massive cleanup of contamination and bacteria. let's see if they recognize the massive health distater that needs attention and how they marshall resources to deal with population dislocation. The water is one thing. The people are another.

They have closed 3 klongs to slow down the mess in the city. On the TV this morning, the people are getting more and more pissed off up there as the water continues to rise. If anyone from the government saw that on TV, expect the gates to be opened to help the people up there, with the requisite increase in water flow into Bangkok.

It isn't anywhere near "under" control.

[emilyb]

Maybe the floods can be controlled at this point. Now we'll see hoe they handle and coordinate the massive cleanup of contamination and bacteria. let's see if they recognize the massive health distater that needs attention and how they marshall resources to deal with population dislocation. The water is one thing. The people are another.

I believe the last quote from the Science Minister was something along the lines of "There is no problem because there are no rats - look around, you won't see any. Only after the water goes away will the rats come back and spread disease" This guy in particular has just been a fountain of unbelievable quotes. He's reaching Idi Amin levels of unintentional hilarity.

[pogal]

Post moved to here: My link

Edited November 7, 2011 by pogal

[geronimo]

I'm between Nong Chok and Minburi, we have a metre of water around the house and if it goes up any more we must evacuate.

[Crushdepth]

Now that the Bangkok Governor has swallowed his pride and is working with yingluck instead of against her, things should get better.

I think you've got that arse-about.

[howzat]

Nice one mate. Agree with you a democratic governor trying to score points over PT PM

Applaud your effort with the flood relief and let's hope this mess will heal political differences and some good will come from it.

[soundman]

Inflammatory post and reply have been removed.

Please try to be civil with each other.

[sparebox2]

Now that the Bangkok Governor has swallowed his pride and is working with yingluck instead of against her, things should get better.

When was he working against her? They have both been working towards protecting Bangkok "at all costs".

WRONG.

The Bangkok Governor was working towards protecting selfish BANGKOK "at all costs". while our sweet lady PM was working towards protecting the whole THAILAND "at all costs".

There is a BIG difference.

[sparebox2]

I'm between Nong Chok and Minburi, we have a metre of water around the house and if it goes up any more we must evacuate.

Evacuate?

Or like many Pathumthani poor rice farmers, go break a dyke to keep the water around the house under control. As a farang, I hope you don't do the latter.

[animatic]

RT @ThanongK: Sukhumbhand has written four letters to Irrigation Dept asking for water pumps. No reply.

RT @ThanongK: Even pro-government Thai Rath is running out of patience now.

"Sukhumband yesterday thanked Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for removing bureaucratic red tape that had earlier prevented water pumps from being delivered to the BMA by skipping the usual multistep procedures, and for mediating in a dispute between the city authority and the Royal Irrigation Department. As a result, the BMA has been able to double the number of water pumps installed around the city to 24."

About time. It was never Sukhumband working agains the Gov,

but the usual bureaucratic arogance, nitpicking and turf wars.

At least after the Irrigation <deleted> had his hissy fit, she sorted him out,

and the pumps are moving where needed with out the officocratic bull poop.

[whybother]

Now that the Bangkok Governor has swallowed his pride and is working with yingluck instead of against her, things should get better.

When was he working against her? They have both been working towards protecting Bangkok "at all costs".

WRONG.

The Bangkok Governor was working towards protecting selfish BANGKOK "at all costs". while our sweet lady PM was working towards protecting the whole THAILAND "at all costs".

There is a BIG difference.

Last I checked, Bangkok is in Thailand.

The Bangkok governor has no authority to do anything outside Bangkok.

So the Bangkok governor is doing the same thing as "YOUR sweet lady" PM in the area that he has authority for.

[siampolee]

laceman # 13

Nice one mate. Agree with you a democratic governor trying to score points over PT PM Applaud your effort with the flood relief and let's hope this mess will heal political differences and some good will come from it.

Thai at Heart If I am right is that the year they deliberately temporarily flooded north of Ayuttaya to save Bangkok and gave some pretty pitiful compensation to the farmers? What is the definition of insanity?

Laceman .

The above quote from Thai at heart concerning the flooding of Ayuttaya was as a result of a governmental decision not a Bangkok governors decision. Many provinces suffered the same fate as a result of governmental decisions. perhaps you should check your facts before casting aspersions upon others,

Edited November 7, 2011 by siampolee

[scotto]

Maybe just maybe things are statring to head in the right direction

with eveyone involved starting to work together to control the flooding?

good news i think?

[rockderk]

Maybe the floods can be controlled at this point. Now we'll see hoe they handle and coordinate the massive cleanup of contamination and bacteria. let's see if they recognize the massive health distater that needs attention and how they marshall resources to deal with population dislocation. The water is one thing. The people are another.

I believe the last quote from the Science Minister was something along the lines of "There is no problem because there are no rats - look around, you won't see any. Only after the water goes away will the rats come back and spread disease" This guy in particular has just been a fountain of unbelievable quotes. He's reaching Idi Amin levels of unintentional hilarity.

After his success as Forestry Chief, the newly appointed Science and Technology Minister has indeed made a number of astute observations, pronouncements and decrees.

Mr Plodprasop said that it was own assessment that the people in Bangkok and surrounding provinces would have to live with the existing flood situation for at least another two weeks.

"From now on Thailand will have 25-50 per cent more rain, or an additional 50,000 - 100,000 million cubic metres of rainwater per year. Normally, the country has about 200,000 million cubic metres of rainwater per year."

The Science and Technology Ministry had finished drawing up a design for "amphibious" houses which can float in water and it would soon be presented to the public.

The most expensive form of a floodway is to dig a large river, he said.

[ and my personal favorite] The minister also said it was now time to have a ministry to specially handle water management.

And don't worry about rebuilding and restoration after the flood, because......

Mr Plodprasop said the government was setting up a committee to be chaired by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on the restoration of the country as a whole after the flood has receded.

The offices of the Bureaucracy Development Committee and the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB) would draw up a plan for the committee to consider and implement.

Thank goodness

[Nisa]

RT @ThanongK: Sukhumbhand has written four letters to Irrigation Dept asking for water pumps. No reply.

RT @ThanongK: Even pro-government Thai Rath is running out of patience now.

Maybe he should pick up the phone, send an email or send a fax given the priority of this and that roads are flooded..

[whybother]

RT @ThanongK: Sukhumbhand has written four letters to Irrigation Dept asking for water pumps. No reply.

RT @ThanongK: Even pro-government Thai Rath is running out of patience now.

Maybe he should pick up the phone, send an email or send a fax given the priority of this and that roads are flooded..

It probably wouldn't matter how he sent them. He isn't getting any replies. I'm sure he didn't send them via Thai Post.

[Gers1873]

What is needed in time of national crisis is a strong Churchillian type of leader. Sadly none seem to be emerging. Hope Scotto is right - this has gone on for too long and too many people have suffered / are suffering.

[outre99]

Now that the Bangkok Governor has swallowed his pride and is working with yingluck instead of against her, things should get better.

When was he working against her? They have both been working towards protecting Bangkok "at all costs".

WRONG.

The Bangkok Governor was working towards protecting selfish BANGKOK "at all costs". while our sweet lady PM was working towards protecting the whole THAILAND "at all costs".

There is a BIG difference.

Stop drinking the coolaid. BMA, by definition, is only responsible for Bangkok. The PM's remit is the whole country. So, please dear sir, tell my why your sweet PM was focusing on putting her friends into power and bringing her brother back for months while the rains were coming down and the dams were filling up.

You see, everybody forgets that it took a long time for all that water to accumulate. It wasn't a biblical flash flood coming from Laos. They had a lot of time and warnings to recognize the danger, open the dams to drain the water at a manageable rate. But they couldn't be bothered because they were too busy dividing the pie given to them by the brainwashed masses.

As this disaster demonstrated very well the inept cronyism is not a good replacement for the competent government. Finally, when after many empty optimistic declarations of "Bangkok will not flood", and just as many recantations for the same without doing much to actually make it happen "your sweet PM" finally declared that "Bangkok must share the pain". What lunacy. There are always priorities in any disaster management plans: power, water, key hospitals, transport hubs, key industry, communications, and the capital. Those things must be protected at the expense of less important areas. This is just a fact. BMA did what any proper government should do, fulfill their responsibilities and close the gates to protect the capital. Of course the flailing PM, not having any kind of coherent plan just gave in to the angry people who were destroying the dams and the gates. This just boggles my mind. The government defers complex decisions of flood management around their capital to the angry locals who have no understanding, knowledge, or authority to make those decisions. The results, as they say, are history.

It's amazing to me that one's previous political views can cloud one's judgement so much as to completely reject reality. This is bordering on the religious fervor. Dear sir, regardless of which color you have previously draped yourself into, just look at what is happening in the country. The demonstrable lack of proper planning, quality of execution, and the clarity of communication that we all have witnessed surely should dam_n any government responsible to a quick replacement by the alternative in any country. Nero fiddled while Rome burned, but he was an emperor. Thailand is still a democracy, and the government responsible for this many failures clearly must bare the consequences.

Edited November 7, 2011 by outre99

[thaiedward]

RT @ThanongK: Sukhumbhand has written four letters to Irrigation Dept asking for water pumps. No reply.

RT @ThanongK: Even pro-government Thai Rath is running out of patience now.

"Sukhumband yesterday thanked Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for removing bureaucratic red tape that had earlier prevented water pumps from being delivered to the BMA by skipping the usual multistep procedures, and for mediating in a dispute between the city authority and the Royal Irrigation Department. As a result, the BMA has been able to double the number of water pumps installed around the city to 24."

About time. It was never Sukhumband working agains the Gov,

but the usual bureaucratic arogance, nitpicking and turf wars.

At least after the Irrigation <deleted> had his hissy fit, she sorted him out,

and the pumps are moving where needed with out the officocratic bull poop.

Good report, sir.

I appreciate reading respectable details far more than swinging in the smelly breeze of 'official reports'.

[meom]

Maybe just maybe things are statring to head in the right direction

with eveyone involved starting to work together to control the flooding?

good news i think?

Maybe.

As long as their total drainage capacity is less then the volume of incoming water there's not much to control really.

[Nisa]

RT @ThanongK: Sukhumbhand has written four letters to Irrigation Dept asking for water pumps. No reply.

RT @ThanongK: Even pro-government Thai Rath is running out of patience now.

Maybe he should pick up the phone, send an email or send a fax given the priority of this and that roads are flooded..

It probably wouldn't matter how he sent them. He isn't getting any replies. I'm sure he didn't send them via Thai Post.

Sorry the somewhat sarcastic comment went over your head but are you suggesting he give up or send a 5th letter?????? Any rational person would pick up the phone after the first letter. I also don't know for sure he didn't use the post but what seems clear is he is playing games by sending 4 letters. Sending one letter by courier with proof of delivery is all that needs to be done to document the official request, then you pick up the phone or you can even pick up the phone first and then document it after. If this was not some kind of political BS statement then he would go down in person and not send 4 freaking letters. The governor is well aware of why he has not got additional pumps but instead of working to solve the problem he is clearly playing politics ... nobody can be this stupid to send 4 letters requesting assistance that is needed urgently and effects the lives and properties of millions of people. I wonder if one of his family members had a heart attack if he would send 4 letters requesting an ambulance then let it be known that he sent 4 letters and still not try to actually deal with the crisis appropriately.

For Gods sake the Irrigation Department has to be one of the groups working on this crisis. There is no reason to be sending letters that is of course unless the governor has decided he is not going to play by the rules and go through proper channels for such a request and would rather hurt the citizens than lose face by working with and being an asset to FROC or responsible parties that are not of the same party as him.

Edited November 7, 2011 by Nisa

[Nisa]

RT @ThanongK: Sukhumbhand has written four letters to Irrigation Dept asking for water pumps. No reply.

RT @ThanongK: Even pro-government Thai Rath is running out of patience now.

"Sukhumband yesterday thanked Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra for removing bureaucratic red tape that had earlier prevented water pumps from being delivered to the BMA by skipping the usual multistep procedures, and for mediating in a dispute between the city authority and the Royal Irrigation Department. As a result, the BMA has been able to double the number of water pumps installed around the city to 24."

About time. It was never Sukhumband working agains the Gov,

but the usual bureaucratic arogance, nitpicking and turf wars.

At least after the Irrigation <deleted> had his hissy fit, she sorted him out,

and the pumps are moving where needed with out the officocratic bull poop.

Good report, sir.

I appreciate reading respectable details far more than swinging in the smelly breeze of 'official reports'.

Yes, Thanks for the update. Good to see this was worked out but just simply disgusting the political and pride games being played (on both sides) at the expense of citizens. In this case it is very clear that Sukhumband was simply playing games instead of working through proper channels setup that caused this delay and of course adds to the chaos already inherent in any operation like this.

[robokop]

Wow, I am impressed. Hopefully it all passes without too much tragedy.

You may be impressed, I am not. There was massive rainfall this rainey season. As the waters flowed south towards the sea, a natural path for the water, the various govt officals tried to prevent flooding and started to block off and control the flow of the water draining to the sea. There has been as a result of the slowing down of the water, a massive buildup of water that looks like it will now flood almost all of Bangkok. All of this as a rsult of well intentioned govt officals to prevent flooding, have made it worse. If you look at maps of the Bangkok area which shows where the water is and where it is heading, you will also see Suvarnabhumi Airport. The water is massed and flowing south directly towards the airport. There is a waterway on both sides of the airport that head south to the sea. There is a series of canels and small waterways directly north of the airport. These may and looks like will move the massive amounts of water to the east of Bangkok to and through the airport.

Little is said about this possibility because of the economic problems if such a scare just went out, and if it happens, an economic disaster for Thai people throughout all of Thailand