Disaster warning issued for Bangkok

KTMphil

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Disaster warning issued for Bangkok

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Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Friday issued the disaster warning for Bangkok, consolidating power for flood control and drainage.

Yingluck invoked the 2007 Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act to oversee flood control in lieu of declaring the state of emergency.

Under her instruction, the topmost priority for flood control is to speed up the drainage of run-off into the sea via East Bangkok.

The government is to coordinate with the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to operate all sluice gates in the capital in order to rein in the water flow.

The armed forces would be in charge of maintaining and defending the royal-initated dykes and levees.

The military would also be responsible for protecting key installations, including the Grand Palace, Siriraj Hospital, the tap water system, Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports.

The Transport Ministry would take charge of ensuring road traffic in the capital.

Relevant agencies would map out plans for evacuation and setting up shelters.


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I can only imagine the flooding is only going to get worse before it gets better.

Is there any prediction if and when it will affect the Suvarnabhumi Airport and outlaying areas?

I am flying my bike in next week sometime unless I post pone due to the flooding. Was planning on picking the crated bike from customs with a pickup truck and driving to Ubon Ratchathani (renting from Budget Rental).

Just unsure if this is going to be doable with the flooding getting worse and what route I am going to have to take.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Jim
 
Jim

A friend of mine, Herman a mechanic in Chiang Mai, picked up his Cagiva motorcycle from Klong Toey container port at 1600pm today (21st October, 2011).

He had no problems at all riding eastwards to Pattaya.



BWG950S said:
I can only imagine the flooding is only going to get worse before it gets better.

Is there any prediction if and when it will affect the Suvarnabhumi Airport and outlaying areas?

I am flying my bike in next week sometime unless I post pone due to the flooding. Was planning on picking the crated bike from customs with a pickup truck and driving to Ubon Ratchathani (renting from Budget Rental).

Just unsure if this is going to be doable with the flooding getting worse and what route I am going to have to take.

Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Jim
 
Thai PM warns deadly floods to last weeks more
by Anusak Konglang

BANGKOK, October 22, 2011 (AFP) - Thailand's prime minister warned Saturday that the kingdom would endure at least one more month of flooding, telling anxious residents in the capital Bangkok to prepare for possible metre-deep water.

The authorities have launched a high-stakes attempt to channel the floodwaters from the central plains out to sea through canals in the city, which has already seen waist-high water in parts of its northern outskirts.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who has invoked a disaster law to take full control of the emergency response, told Bangkok residents to move their belongings at least one metre (3.3 feet) off the ground.

"Bangkok must open all floodgates to allow the water through," said Yingluck. "So during this long weekend residents should move belongings, cars and other valuable things to places at least one metre high."

"There is a huge volume of run-off water from the north and we can't effectively block it but can only slow the flow because our barriers are temporary," she said in her televised weekly address to the nation.

"It's an extremely serious situation that affects people's lives and property," added Yingluck, whose two-month-old government is racing to avert a humanitarian disaster.

Three months of heavy monsoon rains have killed at least 356 people in Thailand and damaged the homes and livelihoods of nine million people, mostly in the north and centre, the government said.

About 113,000 people have been forced to seek refuge in shelters, Yingluck said, adding that while the waters were receding in some areas of the country, the floods heading towards the capital were unstoppable.

The overall flood situation would continue for "four to six weeks", she added.

In Bangkok, home to 12 million people, residents have rushed to stock up on food and bottled water, while motorists have parked hundreds of cars on bridges or elevated roads.

Tens of thousands of soldiers and police have been mobilised to maintain order.

The opposition is calling on the government to declare a state of emergency to make it easier to control people and protect flood barriers, but Yingluck has ruled out such a move.

She said the authorities would secure important locations such as the palaces, government buildings, major utilities and key transport routes.

"The government will oversee the distribution of all consumer goods and ensure that they are sufficient and available for everyone."

A political novice before taking office, the sister of fugitive former leader Thaksin Shinawatra is facing the first major test of her fledgling leadership.

The authorities have failed to protect a number of major industrial parks from the gushing brown water, which has inundated hundreds of factories outside Bangkok, disrupting the production of cars, electronics and other goods.

The government says more than half a million people have seen their jobs disappear for now.

Most of Thailand's main tourist attractions -- including the southern islands of Samui, Phuket and Phi Phi -- have been unaffected although some foreign governments have warned against non-essential travel to Bangkok.

Bangkok's main airport, built on a drained marsh, is still operating as normal and its flood defences have been reinforced.


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Bangkok governor orders evacuations of residents of 27 communities

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra Saturday issued a warning for residents of 27 communities along Chao Phya River to evacuate immediately.

The governor issued the warning at 4:28 pm. He said residents of the 27 communities outside flood barriers should leave their homes immediately as the river is swelling.


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Bangkok Governor: All 50 districts must brace for flood

Bangkok Governor: All 50 districts must brace for flood


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BANGKOK, Oct 26 - Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra on Wednesday warned city dwellers in all 50 districts to brace for flooding as a significant portion of the backed up floodwater from the North is arriving the capital tonight.

The governor made the announcement as he inspected the water level in Chao Phraya River, which he said is likely to be at 2.40 metres above mean sea level.

Mr Sukhumbhand alerted the public that floodwater from the North is also arriving Bangkok Wednesday night, bringing the situation to a critical point.

The governor said he has instructed all 50 districts to be prepared for flooding and expressed concern for 13 specially at-risk areas along the Chao Phraya River, as well as districts in northern and eastern Bangkok, including Lad Krabang, Nong Chok, Min Buri, Khlong Sam Wa, Khan Na Yao, Bang Khen, Sai Mai, Don Mueang, Chatuchak, and Bang Sue.

City Hall will assess the situation again this evening before announcing whether it will declare further warnings for other areas, according to the governor.

Meanwhile, flooding at Don Mueang Airport housing the Relief Operations Centre (FROC) on Wednesday reportedly expanded, covering almost 90 per cent of the runways, according to a Thai News Agency (TNA) report.

The FROC distribution centre of essential items located at the airport cargo facility, has not yet been hit, and about ten large and medium-size commercial aircraft were seen parked at the runway.

TNA said concerned officials sped up moving donated materials piled on the first floor of the airport compound to Supachalasai National Stadium in inner Bangkok adjacent to Mah Boon Krong and reinforced flood prevention dykes with sandbags.

The large numbers of volunteers who had earlier helped pack relief packages at Don Meuang were markedly reduced as the airport was enveloped by floodwater. (MCOT online news)
 
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BANGKOK, Oct 27 - Thai Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra on Thursday pledged to continue fighting the country's worst flooding in decades as Bangkok is now entering a critical point. Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra urged immediate evacuation of residents of Sai Mai district in northern Bangkok as the flood crisis worsens.

Floodwaters are spreading to larger areas of the capital with residents of Don Mueang, Bang Phlad and Thawi Wattana districts already urged to evacuate to safer places of refuge, higher ground or temporary shelters provided by City Hall.

The governor declared Wang Thong Lang and Lat Phrao districts close-watch zones.

As a massive volume of deluge from the North is looming to flood all the capital's 50 districts in combination with high tide from Oct 28-31, and large numbers of Bangkokians flocked to bus terminals and crowed Suvarnabhumi Airport, the country's main airport, to abandon the capital for upcountry and abroad.

Don Mueang Airport, the city's former international airport housing the government's flood centre, was forced to all domestic flight services due to flooding on Tuesday.

Today, Thursday, is the first of a 5-day official holiday the government declared for 21 flood-torn provinces including Bangkok to allow city dwellers to leave or prepare to deal with the deluge. Banks and financial markets will remain open from Thursday to Monday.

The notorious traffic snarl in the capital has become a thing of the past as the mass exodus left city streets with a few cars but public buses, taxis and motorcycle taxis.

Many city dwellers have opted to take public transportation after parking their own vehicles at safe places for fear of the worsening flooding. Triple parking could be seen at tollways and expressways.

Many hotels offered budget prices to help the flood-affected. Some companies also booked hotel rooms for their staff whose homes are being submerged.

The teary-eyed premier remained steadfast that there was no need to move the Flooding Relief Operations Centre (FROC) located in inundated Don Mueang Airport.

We must evacuate people who are staying in Don Mueang Airport to safer areas first, Ms Yingluck said. FROC will be the last agency to move out.

Ms Yingluck said Don Mueang Airport can still be reached via the elevated tollway but she expressed concern for workers who may face obstacles getting to the centre. She has tasked government officials to facilitate such travel by providing transport and shelters.

The premier noted that the relocation of FROC also depends on the electrical system at Don Mueang and that she will consider other options. She said she does not want to move the centre as all working systems have already been settled there.

The prime minister conceded Bangkok is entering a critical level. She said it's impossible to divert flow floodwater and that floodwater will pass through every part of the capital but whether or how long it will persist in particular areas depends on level of the land.

Ms Yingluck said that temporary shelters have been prepared in Lop Buri, Chonburi and a number of other provinces and urged Bangkokians to evacuate to ease burden of officials in emergency cases.

Following criticism of FROC’s performance, the premier called on the public with teary eyes to feel sympathy for FROC officials as they may feel tired while others have now become flood victims themselves.

“Today we ask for mutual support as officials have fought flooding for nearly two weeks. Many are exhausted and some problems cannot be controlled and were not caused by FROC,” said Ms Yingluck.

In other developments, Britain's Foreign Office on Wednesday urged against all but essential travel to Bangkok and 26 flood-hit provinces in Thailand.(MCOT online news)
 
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