Bangkok: Bang Chan Faces Severe Flooding

[webfact]

BANGKOK FLOOD

Bang Chan faces severe inundation

The Nation

Photo : Uthorn Sriphantha November 10, 2011 6:09 am

Bang Chan Industrial Estate is under serious pressure from rising floods, with factories advised to raise machinery from floor level to prevent damage.

Yongyuth Thongsuk, deputy permanent-secretary of the Industry Ministry, said yesterday the estate was operating under Stage 1 of a three-stage emergency plan, after water in the Saen Saeb Canal went a metre above normal levels. The second stage will be triggered if the Saen Saeb Canal goes 1.3m above normal, when factories will be told to prepare for evacuation. If the water level goes 1.4m above normal, factories will be warned to evacuate.

Seri Thai Road, on which Bang Chan Industrial Estate is located, was under 20-30 centimetres of water when The Nation surveyed the area yesterday afternoon. The road was still navigable by small cars.

Organisations have placed some 8,000 two-tonne "big bag" barriers along the inbound and outbound footpaths of Seri Thai Road in a bid to create a channel, should flood levels rise, to release run-off into Bang Chan Canal. But the sandbag barrier is only 10-per-cent complete due to a shortage of equipment. Meanwhile, each factory in the industrial estate has brought in larger pumps to expel water into Saen Saeb Canal.

Meanwhile, 20 companies have temporarily shut down operations for fear of losses due to flood damage.

Industry permanent secretary Witoon Simachokdee said yesterday that water levels in the surrounding area had climbed to 97cm, prompting concerned agencies to keep a close eye on safety issues.

After being menaced by rising water levels for more than a month, the industrial estate is expected to be the next to succumb to floods after seven industrial estates in Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani were overwhelmed by the inundation.

Bang Chan Industrial Estate is home to 93 companies with a combined investment of Bt19.8 billion and employing 13,800 workers.

So far, some 29 pumps are expelling 500,000 cubic metres of water per day at the estate, with 12 boats helping to accelerate the process.

In addition, the estate is monitoring water levels in nearby provinces in a bid to anticipate the need for additional flood-relief equipment and measures.

Somjate Thinnapong, president of the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency, said flood waters have surrounded the estate for several days, and more flowing into the area.

"We have monitor the water level round the clock, especially to the east of the estate, and are doing our best to fight against it," he said, adding that various kinds of barriers have been installed to help protect the area.

-- The Nation 2011-11-10

[cloudhopper]

"So far, some 29 pumps are expelling 500,000 cubic metres of water per day at the estate, with 12 boats helping to accelerate the process." edit add quotes

Unbelievable. They are pumping water into the very canal they expect to overflow. And boats again. This plan has zero chance of success. How any investor or insurance company would ever consider returning to these locations seeing this?

Edited November 10, 2011 by cloudhopper

[mdechgan]

They have to pump the water anywhere outside the estate. I think they will pump and try to outlast the flood hoping the waters will recede before their pumps break down.

[zakk9]

Even more unbelievable is the fact that this is an industrial estate with a klong straight through it, in addition to others very nearby, and they apparently have no permanent flood prevention in place. That is like driving down the motorway blindfolded and expecting not to crash.

[trompelemonde]

Even more unbelievable is the fact that this is an industrial estate with a klong straight through it, in addition to others very nearby, and they apparently have no permanent flood prevention in place. That is like driving down the motorway blindfolded and expecting not to crash.

The whole area is criss-crossed by khlongs both large and small. Same as Bangkok really. Bangchan Industrial Estate is not really an estate with walls and a gate in the normal sense, it is really a zone with three major roads passing through or close to it.

I really don't want it to flood as a lot of people near where I live will be out of work.

[whybother]

Even more unbelievable is the fact that this is an industrial estate with a klong straight through it, in addition to others very nearby, and they apparently have no permanent flood prevention in place. That is like driving down the motorway blindfolded and expecting not to crash.

This estate is inside the Bangkok flood protection walls. Not much point duplicating what should already protect you. ... unless of course there are people who break down the flood protection walls that are protecting you.

[IMA_FARANG]

"Insustrial estates" are almost always built in low lieing and flat areas.

Often the ground they are built on is compacted...to accomadate heavy machinery and large vehicles to bring in heavy loads.

That means they are lower than the surrounding areas outside.

Unless the Law of Gravity has been repealed...which it hasn't...that means that water will naturally flow down into those lower areas.

So you can expect "industrial estates" to be flooded.

That's not to hard to understand.

[IMA_FARANG]

Even more unbelievable is the fact that this is an industrial estate with a klong straight through it, in addition to others very nearby, and they apparently have no permanent flood prevention in place. That is like driving down the motorway blindfolded and expecting not to crash.

----------------------

It is called "wishful thinking Capitalisim".

Investors want "return on investment" in the shortest time.

Flood defenses are a extra cost item...they hurt the profit margin.

So we don't build them. MAYBE, if we're lucky, we won't need them...before we get our profit out of the project.

After that...who cares anyhow?

After we've got our profit...it's you're problem.

Edited November 10, 2011 by IMA_FARANG

[Payboy]

Even more unbelievable is the fact that this is an industrial estate with a klong straight through it...

Where do you think the industries have been releasing their "treated" waste water?

[Orac]

"Insustrial estates" are almost always built in low lieing and flat areas.

Often the ground they are built on is compacted...to accomadate heavy machinery and large vehicles to bring in heavy loads.

That means they are lower than the surrounding areas outside.

Unless the Law of Gravity has been repealed...which it hasn't...that means that water will naturally flow down into those lower areas.

So you can expect "industrial estates" to be flooded.

That's not to hard to understand.

It appears that the 2007 constitution failed to address the gravity laws, an error compounded by the Ahbisit government who neglected to remedy the situation. I think I may have found the smoking gun

[sparebox2]

Even more unbelievable is the fact that this is an industrial estate with a klong straight through it...

Where do you think the industries have been releasing their "treated" waste water?

+1

They need the klong to discharge. Yes you get it, "treated" waste water.

[whybother]

"Insustrial estates" are almost always built in low lieing and flat areas.

Often the ground they are built on is compacted...to accomadate heavy machinery and large vehicles to bring in heavy loads.

That means they are lower than the surrounding areas outside.

Unless the Law of Gravity has been repealed...which it hasn't...that means that water will naturally flow down into those lower areas.

So you can expect "industrial estates" to be flooded.

That's not to hard to understand.

The industrial estates land usually use land fill which raises the land above surrounding areas. They would still be in a flood plain but they are usually higher than the immediately surrounding (natural) area.

[rogerdee123]

"Insustrial estates" are almost always built in low lieing and flat areas.

Often the ground they are built on is compacted...to accomadate heavy machinery and large vehicles to bring in heavy loads.

That means they are lower than the surrounding areas outside.

Unless the Law of Gravity has been repealed...which it hasn't...that means that water will naturally flow down into those lower areas.

So you can expect "industrial estates" to be flooded.

That's not to hard to understand.

The industrial estates land usually use land fill which raises the land above surrounding areas. They would still be in a flood plain but they are usually higher than the immediately surrounding (natural) area.

Unless the landfill goes down to the bedrock, the underlying spongy water filled earth will subside/sink, especially if they have been pumping ground water out from beneath the estates, for which the chances are good.

Anyway .... I guess we will see in another day or two.

[whybother]

The industrial estates land usually use land fill which raises the land above surrounding areas. They would still be in a flood plain but they are usually higher than the immediately surrounding (natural) area.

Unless the landfill goes down to the bedrock, the underlying spongy water filled earth will subside/sink, especially if they have been pumping ground water out from beneath the estates, for which the chances are good.

Anyway .... I guess we will see in another day or two.

The land may sink, but it won't sink 50-100cm more than the area around it.

[webfact]

"Level 1" emergency plan imposed at Bangchan estate

The Nation

Bangchan Industrial Estate imposed the emergency plan (level 1) at 10.30pm of Nov 9, calling all factories to move machinery and other assets to the higher grounds as water level in Saen Saeb Canal is 1 metre high.

Deputy Industry Permanent Secretary Yongyuth Thongsuk said that the emergency plan is maintained at level 1 on Thursday though the water level as of 8am slightly dropped to 0.98 metre.

He noted that overflows from the canal are being blocked while the Royal Thai Navy is quickening water diversion from the canal to the Chao Phraya River.

About 20 factories of total 93 have suspended operations. Operating in the industrial estate include Nestle (Thai) Ltd, President Bakery Plc, Saha Union, Mitsubishi Electric Automation Ltd, and Halcyon Technology Ltd.

So far, floods have inundated seven industrial estates.

-- The Nation 2011-11-10

[Payboy]

Even more unbelievable is the fact that this is an industrial estate with a klong straight through it...

Where do you think the industries have been releasing their "treated" waste water?

+1

They need the klong to discharge. Yes you get it, "treated" waste water.

Yes, the National Environment Quality Act and Public Health Act are strictly enforced by those incorruptible people at the Pollution Control Department. ;)

[ratcatcher]

"Insustrial estates" are almost always built in low lieing and flat areas.

Often the ground they are built on is compacted...to accomadate heavy machinery and large vehicles to bring in heavy loads.

That means they are lower than the surrounding areas outside.

Unless the Law of Gravity has been repealed...which it hasn't...that means that water will naturally flow down into those lower areas.

So you can expect "industrial estates" to be flooded.

That's not to hard to understand.

Are you suggesting they may be creating an "Industrial strength swimming pool"?

[anterian]

As to water quality, catfish and similar, which can gulp air are doing fine, other fish are turning belly up