Industry alarm over worsening Thai floods

[webfact]

Industry alarm over worsening Thai floods

KABIN BURI, October 11, 2013 (AFP) - Soldiers plucked stranded homeowners from chest-deep water and floods threatened major manufacturing plants in central Thailand as international firms raised alarm over authorities' ability to handle the inundations.

Heavy rains have swept the kingdom in recent days, with the worst of the flooding concentrated in central and eastern provinces where international factories have been waterlogged in a development that has raised parallels with devastating inundations two years ago.

"We have not received any help from the government -- we are disappointed with them," said a member of the management team at a subsidiary of Japanese electronics and auto giant Mitsubishi, whose plant at in Chonburi province's Amata Nakorn Industrial Estate is one of several surrounded by water.

"We cannot calculate the losses right now," she told AFP, asking not to be named, but added that the factory had been shuttered for three days and some 800 employees had been sent home on full pay.

Some 37 people have died so far in this year's floods and around 1.7 million people have seen their homes or businesses waterlogged.

Floods around 1.5 metres deep were seen by an AFP photographer in the town of Kabin Buri in Prachin Buri province, one of three severely affected regions in central Thailand.

Authorities said the army had been drafted in to move, evacuate and transport local people.

Thailand's 2011 deluge, which were concentrated further north than the current floods, took a heavy toll on its lucrative manufacturing base, disrupting global supply chains and causing a double-digit contraction in the economy.

Output has since recovered strongly, but the country has remained nervous over the potential of a repeat.
Viboon Kromadit, of the Amata Corporation Public Company, told AFP that there was only a small amount of water in the vicinity causing minor inconvenience to firms.

But Mitsubishi said its factory was surrounded by knee-high floods that have reached the top of sandbag defences.

Thai television reports also quoted Peter Coates, the managing director of Triumph Motorcycles in Thailand, which also has a factory in the Amata estate, criticising the flood response.

"It needs to be managed, it is not being managed," he said.

The country's National Disaster Warning Center has cautioned over expected high sea levels next week, but said the capital will not be waterlogged.

"It is a warning not a crisis -- I confirm Bangkok will not be flooded," the centre's director Somsak Khaosuwan told AFP.


-- (c) Copyright AFP 2013-10-11

[realfunster]

Oh dear...

I tend to have more trust in those without self-interest in minimising the situation such as Mitsu and Triumph rather than the Amata spokesman and the govt. I am starting to get the impression a cover-up is going on.

Being shut for 3 days and counting does not sound like a 'minor inconvenience' to me. Let's hope they managed to get re insured for business interruption after 2011 but even so another claim will only push up their premiums. Not to mention all the suppliers that will be impacted by this.

[ballpoint]

"It needs to be managed, it is not being managed," he said.

Sums up just about every situation in the country under these corrupt, incompetent thugs. And, we still get people on here trying to tell us the government is doing a good job.

[moe666]

For starters this are wasn't affected by the 2011 floods but it does appear the government isn't taking the situation serious.

[Mampara]

For starters this are wasn't affected by the 2011 floods but it does appear the government isn't taking the situation serious.

Its not a matter of taking the situation serious, its a matter like every other situation, they simply don't know what to do. they have had many opportunities and offers for help from countries but the reaction was "we will sort our own problems out". I ask you with "Hat in hand" what problems have they sorted out effectively? they cant even control the traffic without silly comments like "its the old cars that are causing the traffic congestion" when the real problem is staring at them.

[jmccarty]

I'm a ways down the road South from Amata at Pinthong. No flood here yet. The estate dug a very large pit to fill with run off water from the storm drains and has big water pumps connected to pump that out of the estate when the pit fills up. So far, all working well. The pit is about 3/4 full. Not sure if it drains naturally in time or they fire up the pumps occaisonally.

[Katipo]

The damage from this years floods could end up being far greater than that from 2011 in the long term. The reason is that while the waters were worse, investors were prepared to give the government the benefit of the doubt. Now hoever they can see what we have known all along. The government is all but ineffective. Even when it comes to securing the economic future of the country, they can't get past self interest and first lining their own pockets.

Incompetent and corrupt. A devastating combination.

[gemini81]

This is at the top of the 'most predictable events' in modern Thailand. The PTP idiocracy is so predictable it makes me feel like a prophet or fortune teller, so to speak.

[smedly]

For starters this are wasn't affected by the 2011 floods but it does appear the government isn't taking the situation serious.

lol - Yingluc is seen sailing down a main street of a town in central Thailand with a big happy grin on here face - then shortly afterwards mutters the words - there's no flooding issues we are in full control - the only thing wrong was her hair colour

haven't we learned yet that PTP would look out a window at pouring rain and say the sun is shining what a beautiful day - they are liars and thieves nothing else

[Pib]

I think the government's strategy for this year's flooding is minimize govt discussions/announcements on flooding and to keep support low key. This way they are hoping the Thai population as a whole will think this is just normal yearly flooding in limited areas....nothing like the 2011 flooding (which it doesn't appear to be)....media is mostly blowing things out of portion....so, nothing to really worry about...continue on without worry...be happy...vote PTP next election so we can continue with our flood management construction plans (money handout to the big noodles).

[h90]

This is at the top of the 'most predictable events' in modern Thailand. The PTP idiocracy is so predictable it makes me feel like a prophet or fortune teller, so to speak.

Every year again the government is total surprised and unprepared when the raining season comes.....

[NanLaew]

This is at the top of the 'most predictable events' in modern Thailand. The PTP idiocracy is so predictable it makes me feel like a prophet or fortune teller, so to speak.

Every year again the government is total surprised and unprepared when the raining season comes.....

Why the wonderment? Why is it being politicized? It's rainy season and each year, for every one person prepared and walking with an umbrella, there's a dozen running with a plastic bag from 7-eleven on their heads.

[indyuk]

Thai television reports also quoted Peter Coates, the managing director of Triumph Motorcycles in Thailand, which also has a factory in the Amata estate, criticising the flood response.

"It needs to be managed, it is not being managed," he said.

This is a ridiculous remark for a national broadcaster who clearly has not informed himself of the facts. He should also acquaint himself of the current government levels a flood severity categorization index and its scheduled response to each given level of severity of flood. If the government tried to run around the nation to every whimpering manufacturer with flood water in sight of his gate there would not be enough resources to deal with severe flooding that may be threatening a national disaster.

Thailand has just been drenched by the cyclic flooding from the north west, which has been exacerbated by the recent tropical storm. Another tropical storm is on the way right now. If this second tropical storm does not peter out over vietnam it very likely will dump all of it's water over central and eastern thailand. Fortunately the government's strategic flood amelioration plan continues to hold resources for what may become a national disaster in the coming weeks.

Remember you cannot hold your ground against your invader if you fired all your rounds before he launched his frontal attack.

Edited October 11, 2013 by indyuk

[spirit47]

Money for nothing, and the chicks for free...But I don't want to be politican in my next live, food falling out of my face, when I only think about this...

[Pitts]

"It needs to be managed, it is not being managed," he said.

Sums up just about every situation in the country under these corrupt, incompetent thugs. And, we still get people on here trying to tell us the government is doing a good job.

Maybe it's just that they are doing a good job by their standards. But then again doing anything at all would generally be considered an improvement...

[siampolee]

Thai television reports also quoted Peter Coates, the managing director of Triumph Motorcycles in Thailand, which also has a factory in the Amata estate, criticising the flood response.

"It needs to be managed, it is not being managed," he said.

This is a ridiculous remark for a national broadcaster who clearly has not informed himself of the facts. He should also acquaint himself of the current government levels a flood severity categorization index and its scheduled response to each given level of severity of flood. If the government tried to run around the nation to every whimpering manufacturer with flood water in sight of his gate there would not be enough resources to deal with severe flooding that may be threatening a national disaster.

Thailand has just been drenched by the cyclic flooding from the north west, which has been exacerbated by the recent tropical storm. Another tropical storm is on the way right now. If this second tropical storm does not peter out over vietnam it very likely will dump all of it's water over central and eastern thailand. Fortunately the government's strategic flood amelioration plan continues to hold resources for what may become a national disaster in the coming weeks.

Remember you cannot hold your ground against your invader if you fired all your rounds before he launched his frontal attack.

Another graduate from the school of Thaksinspeak, using the Goebbels manual of press releases techniques and rose tinted glasses being worn whilst writing the post # 13..

[robblok]

Thai television reports also quoted Peter Coates, the managing director of Triumph Motorcycles in Thailand, which also has a factory in the Amata estate, criticising the flood response.

"It needs to be managed, it is not being managed," he said.

This is a ridiculous remark for a national broadcaster who clearly has not informed himself of the facts. He should also acquaint himself of the current government levels a flood severity categorization index and its scheduled response to each given level of severity of flood. If the government tried to run around the nation to every whimpering manufacturer with flood water in sight of his gate there would not be enough resources to deal with severe flooding that may be threatening a national disaster.

Thailand has just been drenched by the cyclic flooding from the north west, which has been exacerbated by the recent tropical storm. Another tropical storm is on the way right now. If this second tropical storm does not peter out over vietnam it very likely will dump all of it's water over central and eastern thailand. Fortunately the government's strategic flood amelioration plan continues to hold resources for what may become a national disaster in the coming weeks.

Remember you cannot hold your ground against your invader if you fired all your rounds before he launched his frontal attack.

Another graduate from the school of Thaksinspeak, using the Goebbels manual of press releases techniques and rose tinted glasses being worn whilst writing the post # 13..

x10000

Im often amazed how utterly stupid the red followers are. Is it so hard to admit the government is messing up.

[SOTIRIOS]

For starters this are wasn't affected by the 2011 floods but it does appear the government isn't taking the situation serious.

Its not a matter of taking the situation serious, its a matter like every other situation, they simply don't know what to do. they have had many opportunities and offers for help from countries but the reaction was "we will sort our own problems out". I ask you with "Hat in hand" what problems have they sorted out effectively? they cant even control the traffic without silly comments like "its the old cars that are causing the traffic congestion" when the real problem is staring at them.

...they know how to pocket 350 billion baht under a false pretext.....

....and keep presenting new pretexts for more and more money....providing nothing but soap opera assurances, explanations and excuses.....

[willyumiii]

Rumor has it that a lot of farm land here in NE Thailand where flooding isn't much of a problem is being bought up by factory owners.

A few new factories have been built and the price of farm land is going up.

Maybe the rumors are true??