Heavy rains set to lash capital as storm looms

[Lite Beer]

Heavy rains set to lash capital as storm looms
The Sunday Nation

A policeman directs traffic on the inundated Ratchadapisek Road yesterday. Several sections of some main roads in the capital were under water this past week following heavy downpours.

BANGKOK: -- Mujigae, which is heading to Vietnam, may aggravate the flooding; military units are closely monitoring situation to provide aid

BANGKOKIANS can expect more wet weather this week as tropical storm Mujigae is predicted to bring heavy rainfall to many parts of the country.

Officials from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)|yesterday installed more water pumps at flood-prone spots after the Meteorological Department predicted heavy rainfall in the North, Northeast, East and South of the country from today until Tuesday.

The capital was hit by a heavy downpour yesterday morning, resulting in severe flooding in Chaeng Wattana, Ratchadaphisek, Ngamwongwan and Phaholyothin.

Nong Chok district recorded the highest cumulative rainfall figure - 56.5 millimetres as of 7.45am yesterday.

Several hours of heavy rain last week left many areas of Bangkok under water.

BMA Deputy Governor Amorn Kitchawengkul attended a meeting yesterday with officials at the BMA Department of Drainage and Sewerage, where he was briefed on the city's rainfall situation and preparedness to implement measures to tackle possible flooding.

Flood-prone areas such as Ratchadaphisek Road have been equipped with water pumps while Bangkokians have been advised to follow rain reports and traffic updates to avoid flooded routes.

Amorn admitted that a contributing factor causing flooding was the fact that some roads had become flood-retention areas.

He said an area suffering up to 60mm of rainfall would need up to three hours to drain. The under-construction Bang Sue drainage tunnel, once completed, would be a great help to tackle Ratchadaphisek's flooding problem, he added.

Meanwhile, Army spokesman Colonel Winthai Suvaree said Army chief General Theerachai Nakwanich had instructed military units to monitor the flood situation and provide aid to flood-affected residents in Bangkok while maintaining traffic flow at flooded roads such as in Huai Kwang, Lat Phrao, Bang Sue and Klong Toei.

The Thai Meteorological Department said in its fourth statement yesterday on tropical storm Mujigae that it would pass over China's Hainan Island and make landfall in Vietnam today or tomorrow, resulting in heavy rainfall in upper Thailand from today until Tuesday.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department warned residents in 32 provinces in the North, Northeast, East and South to brace for rainfall and possible flooding during this period while instructing officials to set up fast-moving emergency teams with supplies to aid disaster victims.

The 1784 hotline is operational around the clock.

In Chanthaburi's Muang district, a flash flood early yesterday morning hit 20 homes and fruit orchards in Tambon Klong Narai while the Phra Ajarn Jeu check dam in Chaiyaphum's Nong Bua Rawe district burst yesterday.

That resulted in floodwater affecting about 1,000 rai (160 hectares) of farmland in the downstream Khok Sa-art and Nong Bua Rawe sub-districts.

It is the third time this year the check dam has been burst by flash flooding.

In Lop Buri's Muang district, overnight rainfall resulted in flash floods inundating a two-kilometre section of the Lop Buri-Khok Samrong Road in Tambon Khao Phra Ngam yesterday morning.

As a result, Governor Panu Yaemsri instructed officials to drill the road island to help drain water until the affected area shrunk to 500 metres and could be accessed by small vehicles.

Floodwater also affected six villages and some 1,500 families in Khao Phra Ngam Municipality.

The Moo 2 village was worst hit with floodwater rising up to 1.2 metres, resulting in the municipality dispatching boats to deliver relief items to residents.

It is expected the floodwater will be drained today, provided there is no more rain.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Heavy-rains-set-to-lash-capital-as-storm-looms-30270128.html

-- The Nation 2015-10-04

[MaxLee]

Overrated, overhyped drought all year long, until it floods.......

....... means bad water management only, drought image used to cover up flood mismanagement aka saving face..................

[Sutty]

Overrated, overhyped drought all year long, until it floods.......

....... means bad water management only, drought image used to cover up flood mismanagement aka saving face..................

You are spouting rubbish flash floods are just that FLASH no warning FLASH no body can predict them it's not flood prevention it's FLASH flooding it happens all over the world an act of device intervention if you like. But hey use the blame game if it makes you feel better

[HOOD Robin]

Overrated, overhyped drought all year long, until it floods.......

....... means bad water management only, drought image used to cover up flood mismanagement aka saving face..................

You are spouting rubbish flash floods are just that FLASH no warning FLASH no body can predict them it's not flood prevention it's FLASH flooding it happens all over the world an act of device intervention if you like. But hey use the blame game if it makes you feel better

hahaha... Cant you admit that the drainage system all over Thailand is a DISASTER ???

[Happy Grumpy]

They'll clean out the drains next month.

[Nomyai]

Rain makes it hard for the girls to show up for work.. YES those kind of girls.............hahahaha.

[sandyf]

Overrated, overhyped drought all year long, until it floods.......

....... means bad water management only, drought image used to cover up flood mismanagement aka saving face..................

You are spouting rubbish flash floods are just that FLASH no warning FLASH no body can predict them it's not flood prevention it's FLASH flooding it happens all over the world an act of device intervention if you like. But hey use the blame game if it makes you feel better

hahaha... Cant you admit that the drainage system all over Thailand is a DISASTER ???

You have obviously seen all over Thailand but you must have missed this area. last year they put 2 ft drains each side of the roads and resurfaced the roads all around this rural area. Tremendous improvement.

At the moment they are putting 2 metre drains from the city centre out on the 344 to the bypass. Will see the benefit of that next season.

If Rome had been built in a day, that would have been too long for some.

[craigt3365]

Overrated, overhyped drought all year long, until it floods.......

....... means bad water management only, drought image used to cover up flood mismanagement aka saving face..................

You are spouting rubbish flash floods are just that FLASH no warning FLASH no body can predict them it's not flood prevention it's FLASH flooding it happens all over the world an act of device intervention if you like. But hey use the blame game if it makes you feel better

The article says that flash flood burst a check dam. Third time the check dam has been broken this year alone. A broken dam is what flooded our village south of Pattaya a few years ago.

Poor water management and poor construction. You can't block natural waterways and build poor quality dams and not expect problems.

[Broken Record]

Rain makes it hard for the girls to show up for work.. YES those kind of girls.............hahahaha.

Did you create that post alone in your room whilst your underpants were round your ankles ?

Some very odd people on the internet.

[HOOD Robin]

Overrated, overhyped drought all year long, until it floods.......

....... means bad water management only, drought image used to cover up flood mismanagement aka saving face..................

You are spouting rubbish flash floods are just that FLASH no warning FLASH no body can predict them it's not flood prevention it's FLASH flooding it happens all over the world an act of device intervention if you like. But hey use the blame game if it makes you feel better

hahaha... Cant you admit that the drainage system all over Thailand is a DISASTER ???

You have obviously seen all over Thailand but you must have missed this area. last year they put 2 ft drains each side of the roads and resurfaced the roads all around this rural area. Tremendous improvement.

At the moment they are putting 2 metre drains from the city centre out on the 344 to the bypass. Will see the benefit of that next season.

If Rome had been built in a day, that would have been too long for some.

"...Will see the benefit of that next season."

i would rather say "will see the reparations over and over again in the near future" (not even mentioning where all the money for the REAL job and material would have been gone...)

[Traveling Sailor]

In Bangkok it rains heavy for 1/2 hour and the streets flood. What a dump! These muppits could not manage to avoid flooding even if their lives depended upon it.

[sjholden]

[nauseus]

This typhoon (as a system) will miss Thailand completely, as they usually do (see map below). The main effect from it will probably be to attract a surge in the SW Monsoon and heavy rainfall (and we need that anyway). The media hype is just another CYA in case that happens. Water (mis) management is a huge problem now and proper management more difficult to achieve due to deforestation and urban (non) planning.

[NeilSA1]

They'll clean out the drains next month.

They probably won't need to, the floods will have done the work for them.

[wvavin]

Another rubbish news. The first step to solve this flood problem is to dismiss the Bangkok governor and appoint an accomplished civil engineer to deal with all the whatever flood they would like to call..

[boomerangutang]

Bkk experiences heavy floods every 5 years. Last time was 4 yrs ago in 2011. Bangkokians, brace yourselves for next year.

As for my town of Chiang Rai, it's rather dry, other than 20 minutes of rain last night. I've been hand-watering plants, which I ordinarily don't do at this time of year. More rain? Bring it on!

[boomerangutang]

Another rubbish news. The first step to solve this flood problem is to dismiss the Bangkok governor and appoint an accomplished civil engineer to deal with all the whatever flood they would like to call..

No need to dismiss the governor, just get him to understand that it's ok to deputize some adept and knowledgeable person to oversee drainage plans for the city. Next question, is there an adept and knowledgeable person for that position? In 2011, Bkk had a top government official assigning little river boats to be tethered to bridges - saying that would lessen the floods. The boats were told to fill up with fossil fuels and run their engines 24/7, thereby adding smog to an already smog-choked city, and doing absolutely nothing to alleviate flooding.

[gandalf12]

In Bangkok it rains heavy for 1/2 hour and the streets flood. What a dump! These muppits could not manage to avoid flooding even if their lives depended upon it.

It snows in Sheffield for 10 minutes and the city comes to a standstill. The UK cannot manage snow, and lives are at risk. These muppits get everywhere.

Oh that we lived in a perfect world, but then there would be nothing to complain about.

It is called politics

[Seastallion]

Overrated, overhyped drought all year long, until it floods.......

....... means bad water management only, drought image used to cover up flood mismanagement aka saving face..................

You are spouting rubbish flash floods are just that FLASH no warning FLASH no body can predict them it's not flood prevention it's FLASH flooding it happens all over the world an act of device intervention if you like. But hey use the blame game if it makes you feel better

"It is the third time this year the check dam has been burst by flash flooding"

So, when a flash flood occurs THREE times in 10 months, do you still think it not due to poor management?

[MaxLee]

Overrated, overhyped drought all year long, until it floods.......

....... means bad water management only, drought image used to cover up flood mismanagement aka saving face..................

You are spouting rubbish flash floods are just that FLASH no warning FLASH no body can predict them it's not flood prevention it's FLASH flooding it happens all over the world an act of device intervention if you like. But hey use the blame game if it makes you feel better

Did the responsible government dog agencies ever hear about preventive measurements, ever took preventive measurement actions, for any decades?? No???!!!!!!

Think again, lad.......

[Traveller45]

You know, in the old days, I mean the ancient days, people didn't take these things so serious. Depending on the geographical area, huge floods, droughts, storms etc. sometimes with heavy loss of life, were considered normal. TODAY, then, we expect COMFORT. We expect everything to WORK. We expect to be troubled by nature as little as is possible. I daresay this sort of expectation attitude is apt to encounter disappointment once in a while.

In the old day, also, people sometimes just abandoned an area that in the wake of natural disasters, climate changes etc. had proved unsuitable for living. They simply established their capital elsewhere. This might not be the most unwise of approaches. If we consider this, then perhaps we don't need MORE infrastructure, but LESS...? Bangkok was founded near a river, as so many other cities. At that time waterways were the only sort of transportation that could provide some volume and safety. With this choice, major disadvantages were traded in. A city near a river is always sweaty, prone to disease, and to floods. Seriously, who needs such waterways today? Ok you can laugh if you want but I say: MOVE THE CITY. That is something that the people in the old days did a lot. But they hadn't built multimillion - dollar skyscrapers...

[bil2054]

You know, in the old days, I mean the ancient days, people didn't take these things so serious. Depending on the geographical area, huge floods, droughts, storms etc. sometimes with heavy loss of life, were considered normal. TODAY, then, we expect COMFORT. We expect everything to WORK. We expect to be troubled by nature as little as is possible. I daresay this sort of expectation attitude is apt to encounter disappointment once in a while.

In the old day, also, people sometimes just abandoned an area that in the wake of natural disasters, climate changes etc. had proved unsuitable for living. They simply established their capital elsewhere. This might not be the most unwise of approaches. If we consider this, then perhaps we don't need MORE infrastructure, but LESS...? Bangkok was founded near a river, as so many other cities. At that time waterways were the only sort of transportation that could provide some volume and safety. With this choice, major disadvantages were traded in. A city near a river is always sweaty, prone to disease, and to floods. Seriously, who needs such waterways today? Ok you can laugh if you want but I say: MOVE THE CITY. That is something that the people in the old days did a lot. But they hadn't built multimillion - dollar skyscrapers...

Non solus sed etiam... as the ice caps continue to melt and the sea levels to rise, Bangkok is odds on to become an Asiatic Venice, minus some of the more elegant features of the European model.

Were I of acquaintance with some of the powers I would mention the probability in passing. If I survive long enough for it to be a real factor I will likely have retired to the north with my sweetheart. I nonetheless like all of the Thai I have met and seen, and would like them to be aware of the chance. It would not be the first time for moving the Thai capitol, after all.

[quandow]

Jomtien 4:30 p.m. 4 Oct:

[rubl]

At least the forecast was correct. Very heavy downpours, a few times. The last, not so heavy downpour is currently drizzling out. I wonder how many more we'll get this evening/night.

If it wasn't Sunday Bangkok might have had another day of enormous traffic jams.

Some of the rain today was real heavy. Any news of local flooding? The Governor wading around?

[trogers]

When storm water are not being drained into the sea, it floods.

See this happening in Pattaya, Samui, Phuket, etc...

Don't need the area to be below high sea tides to see this happening! What Thai flood management experts?

[Sutty]

If lightning strikes and does a lot of damage to a major power station in Thailand is that bad management Then let's say for arguments sake the same power station is struck another 3 times is that then the fault of the of the official tasked in sorting out the first strike. I guess according to most yes it would be cos you obviously hate Thailand just a reminder there's two airports in Bangkok that serve destinations all over the world let me be the first to wish you goodbye.

[Assurancetourix]

i would rather say "will see the reparations over and over again in the near future" (not even mentioning where all the money for the REAL job and material would have been gone...)

I can help if you want ....Deep brown envelops

[Usernames]

You know, in the old days, I mean the ancient days, people didn't take these things so serious. Depending on the geographical area, huge floods, droughts, storms etc. sometimes with heavy loss of life, were considered normal. TODAY, then, we expect COMFORT. We expect everything to WORK. We expect to be troubled by nature as little as is possible. I daresay this sort of expectation attitude is apt to encounter disappointment once in a while.

In the old day, also, people sometimes just abandoned an area that in the wake of natural disasters, climate changes etc. had proved unsuitable for living. They simply established their capital elsewhere. This might not be the most unwise of approaches. If we consider this, then perhaps we don't need MORE infrastructure, but LESS...? Bangkok was founded near a river, as so many other cities. At that time waterways were the only sort of transportation that could provide some volume and safety. With this choice, major disadvantages were traded in. A city near a river is always sweaty, prone to disease, and to floods. Seriously, who needs such waterways today? Ok you can laugh if you want but I say: MOVE THE CITY. That is something that the people in the old days did a lot. But they hadn't built multimillion - dollar skyscrapers...

There is no better example of which speak than ancient Ephesus, at one time the second greatest city in Mediterranean to Rome. But the river silted up the city's harbor and the city declined in importance until it was evacuated in its entirety. A possible future for Bangkok? Maybe not silted but flooded? Makes better sense to move than fight an unending war against nature that you will certainly lose in the end.

[metisdead]

Off topic posts and replies have been removed. This is not about flooding problems in the UK.

[SOTIRIOS]

...and why did they wait for rainy season without pushing the drain pipe project...idiotic....