Thai King Saves Bangkok From Flooding

[george]

Thai King saves Bangkok from flooding

AYUTTHAYA: -- His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej granted royal permission for the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) to divert excess waters overflow the Chao Phraya River basin to his vast plots of land in this central province to help absorb the deluge before it can flood Bangkok, according to a senior official of the department.

Following His Majesty's initiative, his subjects in the province also agreed to bear even greater burden by allowing the authorities to divert a huge volume of water onto their own farmlands to reduce the possibility of severe flooding in the capital, RID director-general Samart Chokanapitak said on Tuesday.

As a result of the sacrifice, Mr. Samart said, HM the King's vast holdings of thousands rai of land in Ban Mai subdistrict in the provincial seat and many thousands of freehold farmlands belonging to local residents have been submerged since Monday afternoon only to save Bangkok from flooding.

The move has remarkedly reduced a large volume of overflow to the capital thanks to the great sacrifice by the King and his subjects in Ayutthaya, one of the hardest-hit in the flood woes.

Bangkok is expected to survive the critical period as high tide reaches its peak in the coming few days.

As of Monday, the official death toll reported by the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reached 39, while more than two million people have been made homeless or are otherwise suffering from severe effects of the flooding.

Financial losses have so far been estimated at more than Bt236 million (over US$6 million).

--TNA 2006-10-10

[george]

Thailand Diverts River Overflow to Protect Bangkok

BANGKOK: -- Thai officials are diverting water from the overflowing Chao Phraya river, the nation's largest, to Ayutthaya province to prevent flooding in downtown Bangkok.

The irrigation department plans to divert about 10 million cubic meters (350 million cubic feet) of water into rice fields in Ayutthaya, 76 kilometers (47 miles) north of Bangkok, Royal Irrigation Department chief Samart Chokkanapitark told Business Radio. The project will be completed today, he said.

The water level in the Chao Phraya river is at the highest since 1995 because of monsoon rains and tropical storm Xangsane, which lashed the country last week. Among buildings along the river's banks are hotels owned by Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc., Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels Ltd. and Oriental Hotel Thailand Pcl.

``Some villagers in Ayutthaya province have to make sacrifices because we have to protect Bangkok from flooding,'' Samart said. ``The financial loss will be huge if we let the business areas and downtown Bangkok be flooded.''

More than two million people have been affected by flooding in 45 of Thailand's 76 provinces since August, according to the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department. King Bhumibol Adulyadej has said the new Cabinet, appointed after a coup on Sept. 19, will have a ``tough task'' solving the country's problems, which include the floods and bolstering the nation's international image.

Compensation

The irrigation department asked the military to guard water drainage equipment amid concern about protests from villagers, whose homes and rice fields have been flooded, Samart said. The government will compensate people for any damage that the drainage project causes to their homes and crops, he said.

Flooding has been reported in 17 provinces in the northern and central regions, including parts of Bangkok, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said in a faxed statement today.

Heavy rain is expected over about 70 percent of central Thailand today, the Meteorological Department said on its Web site. Flash flooding will probably occur in northern and central provinces, the department said.

--Bloomberg 2006-10-10

[Whitz]

Real HEAVY rain in Bangkok at the moment.

Seems to be really bad this year!

whitz

[VanZam]

Given the amount of rain falling now in Bkk, I wonder if it will make much difference.

I really do hope the compensate the owners of the farms.

[danone]

looks like too much rainmaking some months ago.

[gentman]

We need more rain here in Borneo and other part of Indonesia to die out forest fires. Its been hel_l in some parts of Malaysia with thick hazes.

[John K]

So I will dare to ask this question again, is this normal or part of global warming or some other reason?

I am also very happy to see the King is still caring for his people in the same way he did all during his 60 years on the throne, truly the sign of a great leader. long live the King.

[suiging]

This years rain predicted by long range forecasters at the start of the year. More to come.