Bangkok braces for floods as Chao Phraya River rises

[Thai at Heart]

Trust there to be a farang journalist who actually clears up the question.

Go over to bangkokpundit, there is a proper journalists statistical analysis of the situation in the dams. Seems there is plenty of space.....

Great finally some honest and clear data. Thanks for this

It really is quite staggering that it takes Bangkokpundit to do this. What the hell is the point in the Nation or the Bangkokl Post if all they are going to do is opinion and regurgitation pieces from politicians with no research?

[robblok]

Trust there to be a farang journalist who actually clears up the question.

Go over to bangkokpundit, there is a proper journalists statistical analysis of the situation in the dams. Seems there is plenty of space.....

Great finally some honest and clear data. Thanks for this

It really is quite staggering that it takes Bangkokpundit to do this. What the hell is the point in the Nation or the Bangkokl Post if all they are going to do is opinion and regurgitation pieces from politicians with no research?

It is quite staggering.. i mean all the data was there to read. I liked it great work.

What I don't understand is why there are not dayly satellite images made of Thailand and put online so people can see for themself. There is a website but it still does not show them clearly. I mean they squander money on everything but making a satelite image a day seems too expensive.

[belg]

hey people, brace for being flooded

what about the million /. billions for flood projects? all spent but no work done.. same same

[Sheryl]

The main immediate concern seems to be the Dan Prakan Chon dam in Nakon Nayok which was at 94% capacity yesterday and it rained torrentially last night. If I understand the geography right this will primarily impact on Prachinburi, Nakorn Nayok, and Chachengsao. Same areas are also vulnerable to the rising levels of the Prachinburi river (which has already burst its banks near the 304 industrial estates).

[kirk0233]

where are the English news updates on the flooding that were promised after 2011 floods; in part to appease the Japanese business interests?

[Local Drunk]

Half a meter to go in the klong (drainage ditch would be more apropos) before we reach the starting point of the last flood.

[Crossy]

Agreed Rob, good info there.

Now what would be really useful for us riverside dwellers would be the current and forecast levels at strategic points along the river basin, flow rates are really meaningless, we need to know the actual level above some datum.

The same information would allow the local government to target their aid to the places that are about to be inundated.

Not going to happen is it?

[robblok]

Agreed Rob, good info there.

Now what would be really useful for us riverside dwellers would be the current and forecast levels at strategic points along the river basin, flow rates are really meaningless, we need to know the actual level above some datum.

The same information would allow the local government to target their aid to the places that are about to be inundated.

Not going to happen is it?

Probably not going to happen.. I really wonder about this as this should be a thing the government could provide.

I don't really live on the river bank.. only a 2011 event has ever touched us but it still gets me scared as this time I wont stay home and will leave to wait it out.

[draftvader]

Please ... you Farang posters. Stop this silliness blaming the Thai government for floods. Every country has floods. Look at Colorado in the US; look at the yearly firestorms in California; look at New Orleans. As I recall. you can see floods in 1942 with rowboats at Victory Monument. Bangkok is built on a mud flat, a flood plain. It's mother nature, not the government.

Thank you...

But only the Thai government is stupid enough to announce that boats are propelling water into the sea...

I have to admit that when I read thaigold's post the image in my mind was of people in rowboats paddling frantically trying to get the water out of Victory Monument whilst some fat-headed politician stood by grinning smugly at his personal genius. I wonder where I got that mental image from?

[Thai at Heart]

Please ... you Farang posters. Stop this silliness blaming the Thai government for floods. Every country has floods. Look at Colorado in the US; look at the yearly firestorms in California; look at New Orleans. As I recall. you can see floods in 1942 with rowboats at Victory Monument. Bangkok is built on a mud flat, a flood plain. It's mother nature, not the government.

Thank you...

But only the Thai government is stupid enough to announce that boats are propelling water into the sea...

I have to admit that when I read thaigold's post the image in my mind was of people in rowboats paddling frantically trying to get the water out of Victory Monument whilst some fat-headed politician stood by grinning smugly at his personal genius. I wonder where I got that mental image from?

Any news on the "Flood Prediction" thingamajig they enveiled only a couple of weeks ago.

Did anyone turn it on yet? I wonder if the operating manuals were translated into thai?

[Sheryl]

Half a meter to go in the klong (drainage ditch would be more apropos) before we reach the starting point of the last flood.

Where are u located?

[marcusd]

Here is the proof that the Thai government only ever seems to open its mouth to tell lies to the people.

 

I can not think of how resilient they are to losing face and bringing tremendous amounts of shame onto themselves.

 

They never seem to have any problems with losing face.

 

Almost every comment on the flood potential have been pure 100% bullshit and they knew it all along, the thing is... so did everyone.

 

Do the people realize how dangerous this government is to Thailand??

 

Looks like a lot of good posts to day and I don't want to run out of likes so I thought I would just repost it.

there is so much truth in it. they are to stupid to realize they are loosing face just by opening there mouth. They think it is OK to lie because the Finance Minister told the Thai people it was OK to lie if it makes them feel good. Now every one knows and they have no intention of changing.

 

Does any one know if Yingluck told the river it was not supposed to flood She has spoken.

 

Well now back to read up on the usual group of PTPredshirt justifiers should be interesting.

Sorry but I do not think governments lying to.people is unique to Thai. Don't all governments?

Sent from my GT-N7000B using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[atsiii]

Agreed Rob, good info there.

Now what would be really useful for us riverside dwellers would be the current and forecast levels at strategic points along the river basin, flow rates are really meaningless, we need to know the actual level above some datum.

The same information would allow the local government to target their aid to the places that are about to be inundated.

Not going to happen is it?

Probably not going to happen.. I really wonder about this as this should be a thing the government could provide.

I don't really live on the river bank.. only a 2011 event has ever touched us but it still gets me scared as this time I wont stay home and will leave to wait it out.

This is what stunned me so in 2011. Given 5+ months to act, the government was not able to launch a single legitimate online emergency website that provided this sort of data, or emergency routes and shelters, evacuation notices, etc. They have an entire ministry of technology with thousands of employees who can block porn and look all over the world for embedded links to banned books, but they can't launch a single bi-lingual flood emergency website for their own citizens, residents & tourists. Surface water modeling is old technology, and thus I agree completely with Crossy that it is what the government should and could easily provide.

[GentlemanJim]

Please ... you Farang posters. Stop this silliness blaming the Thai government for floods. Every country has floods. Look at Colorado in the US; look at the yearly firestorms in California; look at New Orleans. As I recall. you can see floods in 1942 with rowboats at Victory Monument. Bangkok is built on a mud flat, a flood plain. It's mother nature, not the government.

Thank you...

Did they use the rowing boats at Victoria Monument to justify allocating 350 Billion baht to stopping it happen again and then pull off a disappearing act that David Copperfield would have been proud of? Did they allocate $12 Billion USD to stopping floods in New Orleans again and put the money where the public and opposition Government are not allowed to audit the money? Did the Chief Scientific Advisor to the US President put 1000 boats on the Colorado to try and stop 'it's just mother nature'?

I don't think anyone is complaining about mother nature, do you get the idea?

The floods of 2011 were not caused by 'mother nature' they were caused by gross mis-management of reservoirs and dams and in that the Government were culpably negligent. What people are fed up with now is that 350 Billion has gone with the promise that it (flooding)wouldn't happen again! Now, if it's just 'mother nature' you should be wise enough not to make promises that are impossible to keep, so, short of Poseidon being a member of the Shiniwatra clan (which I find no reference to in the Greek Classics) then Yingluck kind of went to overstretch on the promise, don't you think? And where is that money...it's disappeared, ah well no worries, it's just mother nature (I just can't see it being in her bank account somehow!).

Edited September 26, 2013 by GentlemanJim

[MJP]

Please ... you Farang posters. Stop this silliness blaming the Thai government for floods. Every country has floods. Look at Colorado in the US; look at the yearly firestorms in California; look at New Orleans. As I recall. you can see floods in 1942 with rowboats at Victory Monument. Bangkok is built on a mud flat, a flood plain. It's mother nature, not the government.

Thank you...

Did they use the rowing boats at Victoria Monument to justify allocating 350 Billion baht to stopping it happen again and then pull off a disappearing act that David Copperfield would have been proud of? Did they allocate $12 Billion USD to stopping floods in New Orleans again and put the money where the public and opposition Government are not allowed to audit the money? Did the Chief Scientific Advisor to the US President put a 1000 boats on the Colorado to try and stop 'it's mother nature'?

I don't think anyone is complaining about mother nature, do you get the idea?

The floods of 2011 were not caused by 'mother nature' they were caused by gross mis-management of reservoirs and dams and in that the Government were culpably negligent. What people are fed up with now is that 350 Billion has gone with the promise that it wouldn't happen again! Now, if it's just 'mother nature' you should be wise enough not to make promises that are impossible to keep, so, short of Poseidon being a member of the Shiniwatra clan (which I find no reference to in the Greek Classics) then Yingluck kind of went to overstretch on the promise, don't you think? And where is that money...it's disappeared, ah well no worries, it's just mother nature (I just can't see it being in her bank account somehow!).

That's £7billion!!!!

Seriously, did it all get pinched or what?

I mean that's staggering!

[GentlemanJim]

That's £7billion!!!!

Seriously, did it all get pinched or what?

I mean that's staggering!

You are right, It is staggering! As nobody is allowed to check where the government money is going, nobody knows! But it didn't go on preventing the flooding.

As British MP's are held to account for spending 27 pounds on adult video's it kind of puts it into perspective. The British politicians are total utter amateurs compared with this lot! How many nano-seconds would David Cameron last if he said at PM's question time "I have allocated 7 Billion pounds to a project but nobody will be allowed to audit the money or know where it has gone or who it is being paid to, but you can trust us honestly". Clearly a skirt and make-up make all the difference, maybe David should try changing to Davina it might work.

[MJP]

That's £7billion!!!!

Seriously, did it all get pinched or what?

I mean that's staggering!

You are right, It is staggering! As nobody is allowed to check where the government money is going, nobody knows! But it didn't go on preventing the flooding.

As British MP's are held to account for spending 27 pounds on adult video's it kind of puts it into perspective. The British politicians are total utter amateurs compared with this lot! How many nano-seconds would David Cameron last if he said at PM's question time "I have allocated 7 Billion pounds to a project but nobody will be allowed to audit the money or know where it has gone or who it is being paid to, but you can trust us honestly". Clearly a skirt and make-up make all the difference, maybe David should try changing to Davina it might work.

Neil Hamilton ain't got nothin' on these!

I'm amazed Japanese and Korean multinationals would think twice about investing here. They too are dependent on the correct allocation of resources.

[culicine]

Ignore government warnings/reassurances....follow the news and websites that monitor water levels in the rivers / dams and local klongs. This time lat year I could barely pass the main road near my house due to floods in Pakkret. Northern towns had already flooded and also some of the big industrial estates. Huge dams were overflowing and flow rates in the river were 3000 cumecs. Currently, dam levels are only about 50% or so. The situation is barely a shade of what happened in 2011. River levels are high in my area but so far no breaching of banks. Even in 2010 water was up into the main road during October, during the high tide. Nothing like that so far this year.

[atsiii]

Please ... you Farang posters. Stop this silliness blaming the Thai government for floods. Every country has floods. Look at Colorado in the US; look at the yearly firestorms in California; look at New Orleans. As I recall. you can see floods in 1942 with rowboats at Victory Monument. Bangkok is built on a mud flat, a flood plain. It's mother nature, not the government.

Thank you...

Did they use the rowing boats at Victoria Monument to justify allocating 350 Billion baht to stopping it happen again and then pull off a disappearing act that David Copperfield would have been proud of? Did they allocate $12 Billion USD to stopping floods in New Orleans again and put the money where the public and opposition Government are not allowed to audit the money? Did the Chief Scientific Advisor to the US President put 1000 boats on the Colorado to try and stop 'it's just mother nature'?

I don't think anyone is complaining about mother nature, do you get the idea?

The floods of 2011 were not caused by 'mother nature' they were caused by gross mis-management of reservoirs and dams and in that the Government were culpably negligent. What people are fed up with now is that 350 Billion has gone with the promise that it (flooding)wouldn't happen again! Now, if it's just 'mother nature' you should be wise enough not to make promises that are impossible to keep, so, short of Poseidon being a member of the Shiniwatra clan (which I find no reference to in the Greek Classics) then Yingluck kind of went to overstretch on the promise, don't you think? And where is that money...it's disappeared, ah well no worries, it's just mother nature (I just can't see it being in her bank account somehow!).

And you didn't even mention the rampant deforestation, or the ridiculous government demand in 2012 that the "forests would be regrown in one year!" Sure, why not? Just wave your magic money wand and "presto," new forests! But where are they?

And just as in 2011, these floods will ultimately wash millions of tons of trash, sewage and worse into the Gulf, where it will exacerbate the pollution of Thailand's Gulf tourist island industries and fisheries. Then, no doubt, TAT will assure us that tourism numbers are up as tourists flock to Thailand to see oceans burn or to walk on water.

Mother nature is not the cause; mother nature is on the run!

[hellodolly]

What ever happened to the pumps Thaksin claimed to buy in 2011?

Or was it just look at me talk?

[GentlemanJim]

What ever happened to the pumps Thaksin claimed to buy in 2011?

Or was it just look at me talk?

Another good question, worthy of an answer, but won't get one.

atsiii

You are so right! Good post.

[culicine]

Please ... you Farang posters. Stop this silliness blaming the Thai government for floods. Every country has floods. Look at Colorado in the US; look at the yearly firestorms in California; look at New Orleans. As I recall. you can see floods in 1942 with rowboats at Victory Monument. Bangkok is built on a mud flat, a flood plain. It's mother nature, not the government.

Thank you...

The massive flood of 2011 was exacerbated by poor reservoir management. Dams were full even by August and in some cases very little water was being released during this time. Then heavy rains came and they had to release a whole lot very quickly, hence causing extensive flooding. I guess they were holding it so rice could be planted in the dry season.

[culicine]

There are so many expert Hydrologists here on Thai Visa I'm surprised there is any problem at all. You should start a company and contract your services out to the Thai government. After all, you are all experts on the subject and assume there are no competent local engineers. I'm sure they would love to hear your expert input in regards to this matter.

The engineers told us our house floors would be covered by about 30 cm or water several weeks before floods hit. They were pretty damn close to the mark! So they ain't too bad after all.

[marcusd]

 

Please ... you Farang posters. Stop this silliness blaming the Thai government for floods. Every country has floods. Look at Colorado in the US; look at the yearly firestorms in California; look at New Orleans. As I recall. you can see floods in 1942 with rowboats at Victory Monument. Bangkok is built on a mud flat, a flood plain. It's mother nature, not the government.

Thank you...

 

Did they use the rowing boats at Victoria Monument to justify allocating 350 Billion baht to stopping it happen again and then pull off a disappearing act that David Copperfield would have been proud of? Did they allocate $12 Billion USD to stopping floods in New Orleans again and put the money where the public and opposition Government are not allowed to audit the money? Did the Chief Scientific Advisor to the US President put a 1000 boats on the Colorado to try and stop 'it's mother nature'?

 

I don't think anyone is complaining about mother nature, do you get the idea?

 

The floods of 2011 were not caused by 'mother nature' they were caused by gross mis-management of reservoirs and dams and in that the Government were culpably negligent. What people are fed up with now is that 350 Billion has gone with the promise that it wouldn't happen again! Now, if it's just 'mother nature' you should be wise enough not to make promises that are impossible to keep, so, short of Poseidon being a member of the Shiniwatra clan (which I find no reference to in the Greek Classics) then Yingluck kind of went to overstretch on the promise, don't you think? And where is that money...it's disappeared, ah well no worries, it's just mother nature (I just can't see it being in her bank account somehow!).

 

 

That's £7billion!!!!

 

Seriously, did it all get pinched or what?

 

I mean that's staggering!

Not pinched...recycled to better projects like shopping..helping distraught family and friends....

Sent from my GT-N7000B using Thaivisa Connect Thailand mobile app

[OZEMADE]

I see they have a huge storm forming up over the Sth China sea and have warned Thailand to brace for it. With all the floods around Thailand at the moment, they may be in trouble again.

[yooyoo]

Is there a website where one can get live or regular updates on the flood situation?

[kimamey]

That's £7billion!!!!

Seriously, did it all get pinched or what?

I mean that's staggering!

You are right, It is staggering! As nobody is allowed to check where the government money is going, nobody knows! But it didn't go on preventing the flooding.

As British MP's are held to account for spending 27 pounds on adult video's it kind of puts it into perspective. The British politicians are total utter amateurs compared with this lot! How many nano-seconds would David Cameron last if he said at PM's question time "I have allocated 7 Billion pounds to a project but nobody will be allowed to audit the money or know where it has gone or who it is being paid to, but you can trust us honestly". Clearly a skirt and make-up make all the difference, maybe David should try changing to Davina it might work.

Clearly a skirt and make-up make all the difference, maybe David should try changing to Davina it might work.