Bangkok, Provinces On Full Flood Alert

[george]

EMERGENCY SERVICES

Bangkok, provinces on full alert

Monsoon season looks set to peak with major flooding predicted in many areas

BANGKOK: -- Bangkok residents have been told to brace themselves for intense flooding and given emergency helplines in case the water rises too high.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's (BMA) 24-hour emergency flooding number is 1555, or alternatively 02 248 5115, Governor Apirak Kosayodhin said yesterday. Three other helplines are being run by radio stations: 1137 of traffic radio Jor Sor 100; 1677 of Ruam Duay Chuay Kan community radio; and 1644 of Sor Wor Phor 91 station.

BMA teams have been readied to tackle complaints and water pumps are available in likely areas of flooding.

Floods are expected throughout Bangkok's low-lying areas when rainfall reaches 100mm.

Apirak and BMA bosses discussed assistance yesterday to help the capital cope with the monsoon's peak in the coming weeks. Waterways and roadside culverts are also being cleared.

Numerous sandbags are ready to build embankments near waterways.

Flash-floods are being forecast near Uttaradit, where many people drowned last month.

Officials in Phetchabun are preparing for possible mudslides in 11 districts in the province

containing around 300 villages.

In Khao Kho and Lom Kao districts, people living in low-lying areas in the water's potential path have been evacuated to higher ground.

Areas where major mudslides killed many residents six years ago are receiving particular attention.

Officials have been trained to report emergency incidents and conduct rescue operations.

Provincial governor Torphong Amphan said officials in areas prone to flooding and mudslides had been trained to deal with any incidents.

--The Nation 2006-06-26

[stumonster]

is there any resources online that map out flood prone/ low lying areas in the bangkok area ? heights of previous flooding etc.

[george]

Flood recovery efforts continue in North

PHITSANULOK: -- Recovery efforts in the aftermath of Thailand's floods have continued in the northern provinces, both in terms of relief assistance and implementation of natural disaster warning system.

On Monday Deputy Interior Minister Sermsak Pongpanit and other officials inspected Chumsaeng Songkram subdistrict in Phitsanulok's Bang Rakam district to witness relief assistance to 1,080 families of three villages recently affected by heavy flooding.

Many paddy fields and local roads remained flooded and in disrepair.

Mr. Sermsak ordered urgent repair of damaged infrastructure in the district--where 54 villages have been under water carried in by the floods, ruining more than 145 rais of crops, damaging over 1,100 fish ponds, and breaking up 58 village roads.

Meanwhile in Uttaradit, officials of the Water Resources Department from Chiang Mai province conducted emergency training for assistant village headmen and local government organizations in Tha Pla district--on using natural disaster warning devices now installed in the district's four villages considered most vulnerable to mudslides.

The devices automatically signal warnings in three different colours to prompt three levels of response--green for being on alert, yellow for evacuation standby, and red accompanied with a siren for immediate evacuation.

--TNA 2006-06-26

[petecooper]

This is a great website for checking the current Bangkok rain/flood situation:

http://www.wap.ait.ac.th

The first picture shows a current flood forecast. The second (which unfortunately doesn't work 100% of the time) shows where current rainfall is occuring (usually only about 10-15 minutes off real time), and the third I'm not sure about but seems to be some sort of radar cloud/rain/something map. The second and third images you can also click on to get a bigger image, which is clearer.

If you go to this site and the second (rainfall) image isn't working, don't worry. It seems to go up and down at various intervals. Just try again a few hours later (that's not too helpful if you're trying to work out when you should escape from the office to avoid the rain, though). On the other hand, make a mental note to check it next time there's a cracking storm - it's quite impressive!

If anyone knows of any other Bangkok rainfall radar image websites, please post here too. I'm hoping to find an animated one which shows the direction in which the rain is moving - I've seen these in other countries and it would be very useful here too.

Enjoy

Pete

Edited June 26, 2006 by petecooper

[TBWG]

This is a great website for checking the current Bangkok rain/flood situation:

http://www.wap.ait.ac.th

The first picture shows a current flood forecast. The second (which unfortunately doesn't work 100% of the time) shows where current rainfall is occuring (usually only about 10-15 minutes off real time), and the third I'm not sure about but seems to be some sort of radar cloud/rain/something map. The second and third images you can also click on to get a bigger image, which is clearer.

If you go to this site and the second (rainfall) image isn't working, don't worry. It seems to go up and down at various intervals. Just try again a few hours later (that's not too helpful if you're trying to work out when you should escape from the office to avoid the rain, though). On the other hand, make a mental note to check it next time there's a cracking storm - it's quite impressive!

If anyone knows of any other Bangkok rainfall radar image websites, please post here too. I'm hoping to find an animated one which shows the direction in which the rain is moving - I've seen these in other countries and it would be very useful here too.

Enjoy

Pete

Try this site covera all of country...http://www.tmd.go.th/radar/dmg120.html

TBWG

[Arkady]

Pity that the government is hel_l bent on making Bkk floods much worse by developing the drainage areas around the new airport. Amazing what the mega rich will do for a few measly hundred million dollars more.

[penzman]

Pity that the priority was an airport and a whole new city around it period. Some will fly while others will float...

[Scott]

Thanks for the link, I found it a little hard to use, but will practice until I figure it all out.

[Jai Dee]

Water is starting to overflow from some riverbanks in Ayutthaya

The continually rising water level in Ayutthaya Province is starting to affect residents living near the riverbanks of Noi (น้อย) River in Sena (เสนา) District and Phakhai (ผักไห่) District.

Water overflowed from the Noi River and flooded homes lining the riverbanks in Sena and Phakhai today. Bankrathum (บ้านกระทุ่ม) Sub-district in Sena is the most noteworthy point with 50-100 centimeters of floodwater. The locals there say they were unable to prepare in time because the water in the river had risen very fast. Just two days ago, the water level was a whole meter below the banks.

Mrs. Thurian Suphanthamit (ทุเรียน สุพรรณทมิตร), who is head of the crafts and textiles group in Bankrathum, said the water rose so fast the machines and raw materials were almost not moved away in time and that it was a close shave from massive damage to assets.

Mr. Yee Khumjaroet (หยี่ คุ้มจะโรจน์), who lives in the same community, said there has never been a flooding incident at such time of the year. Flooding, if it occurs, would always take place in October.

In the meantime reports have stated that the water level in the Chaophraya (เจ้าพระยา) River portion in Ayutthaya has rapidly risen over the last two days, and is very close to overflowing the banks in the districts of Bangban (บางบาล) and Muang.

Source: Thai National News Bureau Public Relations Department - 28 June 2006

[Scott]

Here in BKK we are now on our second day without rain, so maybe this is going to slow down a little.

[Crossy]

Here in BKK we are now on our second day without rain, so maybe this is going to slow down a little.

No chance mate. We're only 40km north of you in Pathum Thani, it's hammered down on the last three days. The river is up to the road, apparently the highest it's been for several years. Need a boat to get to our favourite restaurant (still open though).