Thailand Live Monday 14 Nov 2011

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Thailand Live Monday 14 November 2011

News, Bits and Tweets

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Keep up to date with live updates from the news, hour by hour.

For breaking news,national, regional and international news updates on a daily basis only, this thread is closed to commentary so that those who wish to follow the news can find it here...

Commentary is still open for Thailand news in the relevant thread posted in News Clippings.

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Related topic: Thailand Live Sunday 13 Nov 2011

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Today's Thailand weather and forecasts:

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Don Muang Airport to take 60 days before reopening[/b]

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PM Yingluck's tears not helping us: poll

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BUSINESS

As water goes down, prices will rise: Thailand

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AFTERMATH

Fighting disease just one of many jobs facing BMA: Bangkok

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AFFECTED FOREIGN FIRMS

Japan seeks urgent relief for affected companies: Thailand flood

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Free eggs, rice for garbage: Thailand

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FLOOD REHABILITATION

Universities and inventors doing their bit

The Nation

Range of products developed for flood victims

With more than 40 people having lost their lives due to fatal electric shocks during the worst flood crisis in decades, this risk has become a serious issue. It has drawn a lot of attention from people in flooded areas, anxious - understandably - to prevent themselves suffering a similar fate.

Maybe it's time for universities - the agencies that house a lot of knowledge - to lend a hand, by inventing different utensils or objects that can be used during flooding to ease victims' troubles.

King Mongkut's University of Technology Thonburi (KMUTT) has successfully invented thousands of items of equipment that can be used to test water for dangerous electrical current.

As many as 5,000 plastic tubes equipped with circuitry to test the electrical current in water were completed last week thanks to overwhelming help from volunteers. With voluntary assistance, KMUTT was able to produce 1,000 pieces a day (up from 100) until it reached the 5,000 pieces targeted.

Each of the tubes can test electrical leaks in a radius of two metres and when it finds a leak, a small fluorescent bulb is activated.

About 3,000 of these detectors have been distributed for free to people in need and agencies doing flood assistance missions after about 6,000 people submitted a requests for them.

Anyone wanting to know about the university's assistance and voluntary activities can go to www.facebook.com/maicheckfirerua or call 02 470 9999.

King Mongkut's Institute of Technology Ladkrabang (KMITL), meanwhile, has a "FloodDuck", which can be used for the same purpose as the KMUTT tubes.

The FloodDuck is a cylindrical plastic case capped with a yellow duck containing circuitry that can float well away on its own in search of electrical leaks.

If the FloodDuck finds anything, from 10 to 220 volts, its red LED light is activated.

KMUTL has created 1,000 of the ducks and given them to hospitals, staff at the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, the Army, and to rescue squads.

Electrical leak test equipment also has been invented by Chulalongkorn University.

During floods, contaminated water has been threatening people's health, too.

So, several universities have come up with great ideas to invent water filters.

Chulalongkorn University (CU) has created more than 1,000 portable water filtration kits. Each kit has aluminium chlorohydrate to precipitate sediment, chlorine to kill germs and a water filter equipped with activated charcoal to make the water clearer and cleaner.

Kasetsart University has also created a "Mobile Aqua Purifier" to change floodwater to usable and drinkable water. One purifier that costs Bt16,500 can produce 120 litres of usable water per hour while it takes an hour to produce 30 litres of drinkable water.

Meanwhile, Prince of Songkla University (PSU) has shown its membrane-technology water filters with 0.3 micron ceramic filter elements that were used in November last year to produce 100,000 bottles of drinking water to help flood victims in Hat Yai. Each costs Bt2,000 and can filter 30 litres of water in an hour.

The main force of membrane technology is the fact that it works without the addition of chemicals, with relatively low energy use and easy and well-arranged process conductions.

Mahanakorn University of Technology also has water filters that use simple technology - ceramic elements and activated charcoal. One filter can produce five litres of usable water in half a minute.

Even defecating - going to the toilet - has become a big issue when toilets are under water.

A group of alumni from CU and University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce have designed "Judnak" bag - an instant biodegradable toilet. With Judnak bags people can do their business virtually anytime and anywhere. After they put quicklime in to kill germs and tie up the top of the bags, which can be put into a "Judtem", a larger version of the biodegradable bag; it can keep many Judnak bags. These can stay nearby during the inundation or be buried if people have a chance to do this. They are designed to "disappear" within six months.

But, these bags are not available for individuals, only organisations that work directly with flood victims. Thousands of packages have been donated to concerned organisations.

KMUTT has biodegradable bags as well. Its bags can quickly biodegrade. The university has provided a chemical substance, Zeolite, to kill germs and neutralise unwanted odours.

To cure the disease athlete's foot, which people often get in a flood, Srinakharinwirot University has provided balms to help people and soldiers who have to work in flood water on assistance missions.

Around 4,000 caskets of balm have been produced. The university has also offered 400 bottles of citronella oil, a mosquito repellent.

Phayao University has offered more kinds of medicines, including calamine lotion, balm, alcohol hand gel, a cream for fungal infections on skin, plus mosquito repellent.

Even a university from a southernmost province, PSU, Pattani campus, has presented an edible invention to help flood victims.

The campus' canned Massaman curry with chicken can be kept as long as two years. Around 1,000 cans have been sent to affected people in many provinces.

-- The Nation 2011-11-14

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Floods delay CAT, TOT's full 3G service launches

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Singha blames distribution problems for lack of drinking water: Thailand

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Legal fight politically motivated: Pheu Thai

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Water in Chao Phraya expected to reach its highest lvl at 10.35AM at 2.34M above avg sea level this morning. /TANN

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Water in Lad Prao 5-way junction has declined drastically. Area in front of Jatujak Market completely dry at 8am. /TANN

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PT populism goes Apec: TH promises new highways, towns, railways, even new river (!) to combat floods. & can't even keep big bags in place. /via@BangkokDan

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RT @suthichai: Dr Anon: If no more big bags are removed, it can be reasonably assumed that Inner Bangkok is safe.

Pheu Thai MP Karun denies he led locals in dismantling big bags. Military vehicles carrying big bags seen heading to DonMuang /TANN

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Bang Chan Industrial Estate's still dry. Water level at CharanSanitwong 77-89 and 43 at 70-150cm /TANN

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Bangkok-bound tourists heading to Singapore instead

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RT @tukky_nt: 8.10am: MRT and BTS remain open as normal; San Saeb boat runs from Wat Sri Boonreung - Pratunam. Via @ThaiPBS

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Bangkok Governor Displeased with FROC's Management on Don Muang Big Bags

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Chao Phraya Express Boat Postpones Resumption of Service

The Chao Phraya express boat service has extended its closure for another week, until November 21, because of the high water level of the river.

Chao Phraya Express Boat Service Managing Director Parinya Rakwatin said the service will resume on November 21, instead of November 15 as announced earlier, due to the continuously high water level in the Chao Phraya River.

He stated that the ferry service is still operational and added that the cancellation of service since October 24 has caused the company to lose 20 million baht in revenue.

Meanwhile, Don Muang Tollway President Sombat Panichcheewa said the tollway has extended its free service, which is supposed to expire at midnight on November 12, to midnight on November 20, in keeping with other expressways.

He stated that the tollway wants to facilitate travel for the public now that Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road is still flooded and small vehicles cannot pass.

Whether the fare exemption will be further extended will be decided based on the flooding situation on Vibhavadi-Rangsit Road.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-14

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Thai stock index opens on Monday at 983.58, up 12.61 points /MCOT

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Colder Weather in Northern Province Draws Tourists

The weather in the northern region is turning colder, which is having a positive affect on agriculture and tourism.

Last weekend, Loei's Chiang Khan District in northern Thailand was extraordinary lively.

Ninety-eight percent of the tourists visiting the area were Bangkok residents escaping the ongoing flooding.

They took the opportunity to stay in the province over a long holiday and enjoy the gorgeous scenery along the Kong River.

Recently, the province's weather has started to get colder.

Resorts throughout the district are fully booked and there are no rooms available for people who did not make a reservation.

Resort owner Benjamaporn Chumsaeng-Na-Ayutthaya said that a large number of tourists have made their way up to the area last week.

The vast majority of them plan to relax, and in some cases, they were flood evacuees.

She added that many hotels are fully reserved through the end of the year.

In Nakhon Phanom Province, the temperature was at 19.9 degrees Celsius.

The Meteorological Department predicts that it will continue to get colder, which will benefit fruit agriculturalists, especially in Nong Yat's Ban Na Jok and Ban Dong Choke sub districts.

Farmers said that from October through December of each year, many households grow temperate plants such as Coriander and Chinese Kale which yield high productivity.

They sell for 20 to 25 baht per kilogram and growers earn at least 1,000 baht daily.

When the weather turns warmer in the summer, they switch to growing the morning glory.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-14

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EDITORIAL

Nothing abstract about this crisis of confidence: Thai opinion

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Bangkok Governor inspects Don Mueang site where 'Big Bag' barrier was dismantled

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Thai Traffic Police: 70% progress in fixing highway 340, need to lay 300 meters of concrete pipes, should be done in 2 days /TANN

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RT @mpoppel: BREAKING -- Strong 6.4-magnitude earthquake strikes the Molucca Sea in Indonesia; no tsunami warning

RT @mpoppel: Pacific Tsunami Warning Center puts magnitude of Molucca Sea earthquake at 6.6; local seismologists 6.4

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Commerce Ministry Expects Supply Shortages to Ease in Two Weeks

The Commerce Ministry has opened up additional distribution centers to help facilitate goods transportation and expects supply shortages to ease within two weeks.

Permanent Secretary for Commerce Yanyong Phuangrach said his ministry cooperated with major retail stores in opening additional distribution centers to streamline freight transportation across the country.

He believes the supply shortage situation will return to normal in two weeks.

New distribution centers were opened at Bitech Bangna, Bo Win, Ang Sila, Ao Udom, Baan Khai and Amata City.

Yanyong added that his ministry has imported 650,000 eggs, 650,000 bottles of water, 500,000 cans of fish and 740,000 packs of instant noodles so far, which they have been distributing via major retail stores across Bangkok.

He said his ministry will import more water, eggs, and canned fish because current supplies are still insufficient to meet demand.

The ministry is also keeping tabs on sweetened milk supplies following complaints of shortages and price increases.

If the situation worsens, importing the goods from neighboring countries might become necessary as a short-term solution.

The permanent secretary insisted that all consumer products must be sold at the recommended prices.

Complaints about refusals to sell, hoarding, and overpricing can be made by calling the hotline at 1569.

Violators will receive a maximum jail sentence of seven years, and up to a 140,000 baht fine or both.

-- Tan Network 2011-11-14

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Insurgents detonate a bomb planted in Bacho, Narathiwat injuring 2 soldiers while patroling the area for safety. ThaiPBS reports /TANN

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RT @veen_NT: TR @Suthichai: Don Mueng residents insist they are to demolish the "Big Bag Barriers": government's deadline is 6 pm.