Living in Bangkok!

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated 27 October 2011 :-

Froc advises people to leave Bangkok


The Flood Relief Operations Centre (Froc) has advised people in the capital to leave Bangkok for their own safety this long weekend, if they can, reports said.

The flood centre said Bangkokkians should take the opportunity during the special long holiday weekend to visit tourist destinations or to go and stay with relatives in flood-free provinces.

The suggestions came after a prediction that the floodwater from the North will peak in Bangkok soon, and be made worse by peak high tides from Oct 28-31.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumphand Baripatra on Thursday morning told people in Sai Mai in Bangkok to evacuate to safer ground as the water level in the area was rising.

Mr Sukhumphand yesterday advised people in Bang Plad and Don Mueang districts to move out of their homes to higher areas or to the temporary shelters prepared by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration.

He also declared Wang Thong Lang and Lat Phrao districts special watch zones for flooding.

[KatoeyLover69]

Entire Bangkok City told to brace

The Nation October 27, 2011 12:26 pm

FROC chief says every area of Bangkok will flood; If three key barriers hold up, damage to capital could be limited : PM

"Floods will hit every area of Bangkok but each area will see different levels of water," director of the Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) Pol General Pracha Promnok said yesterday.

Pracha, who is also the justice minister, urged Bangkok residents to adjust to the situation and accept what was going to happen.

He said about 400 million cubic metres of flood water are now in an area north of Bangkok and poised to flow in.

"Bangkok's water-drainage capacity is just 30 million cubic metres a day," he pointed out.

An informed source at the BMA said the flood-water level would range between 30 centimetres and 1.5 metres across 50 districts of Bangkok.

Flooding will last for a month: BMA source "The inundation will last for about one month," it added.

The information was almost identical with what Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra had said in her televised speech on Tuesday.

Yingluck said yesterday that concerned authorities would continue their efforts to protect inner Bangkok from flooding.

"We will maintain flood barriers at three key areas. If they remain well in place, not all areas of Bangkok will be affected," she said. When asked about the chances of these floodwalls crumbling, she said, it was "50 per cent".

Yingluck said all officials were doing their best and the private sector had also joined in.

Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra urged all sides to cooperate with each other to weather the flood crisis.

As of press time yesterday, many parts of the capital had already been submerged. In Don Muang district, flood water had forced the cancellation of all commercial flights from Don Mueang Airport since Tuesday. Also, portions of many key roads such as Vibhavadi Rangsit, Phaholyothin, Kamphaengphet, Songprapa, Veruvanaram, Sirin-dhorn, and Charansaniwongs were impassable to traffic. Charoen-krung Road in the heart of Bangkok is also flooded.

Several shops and department stores, including Central Plaza Pinklao, closed in the wake of inundation.

Thawi Watthana District Office director Prapat Thirapongtorn said due to the run-off water from the upper part of the country, the Mahasawas Canal would overflow and flood nearby areas today.

"I have already instructed and almost forced people living along the canal to evacuate," he said.

He said the raging flood was too serious to be controlled.

A source at the FROC said Pracha had already held video conferences with top officials of Kanchanaburi, Suphan Buri, Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi, Chon Buri and Nakhon Ratchasima to prepare evacuation centres for flood-hit Bangkok residents in the worst-case scenario of waters inundating the capital.

"FROC has planned to provide transfer services to those evacuation centres for flood victims. Flood-hit people can also travel to the evacuation centres on their own," the source said.

Army chief General Prayut Chan-ocha said people in Bangkok's Bang Phlat district had already been warned of the immense volume of run-off water heading their way.

"Boats will be ready to evacuate people. Those who are not willing to move out of their houses

will be told where to pick up food and water as we may not be able to deliver the food to all," he said.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated 27 October 2011 :-

Mass exodus to Hua Hin and Pattaya

Bangkok residents fleeing the floods are fast filling up budget hotels in the resort towns of Hua Hin and Pattaya.

As the flood threat mounts, some families already sent their children and elderly members out of the city, said Risinee Sarikaputra, associate director for research and valuation with the property agency Knight Frank Thailand.

Cha-am and Hua Hin are popular as more city residents have second homes in these resorts than Pattaya.

While hotels in resort destinations are almost full, few expect a revenue windfall as most are slashing prices to help those affected by floods, and the spending power of Thais is lower than that of foreigners, said Ms Risinee.

The occupancy rates of luxury hotels have been stable but some have seen falling demand since international visitors have been cancelling bookings.

Hotels with the highest occupancy rates are economy and budget properties charging 1,500 to 2,500 baht per night.

Aliwassa Pathnadabutr, managing director of CB Richard Ellis Thailand, said many Bangkok residents are moving to their home provinces.

"Through our Pattaya and Hua-Hin operations, we are seeing a rapid rise in bookings for serviced apartments and hotels in both locations, particularly since the past weekend," she said.

Somsakul Limsuttaphan, assistant managing director of Plus Property Co, reports 150 inquiries to book short-term rental homes for one to two months. Rates range from 25,000 to 55,000 baht a month.

Knight Frank found the occupancy rate of Bangkok serviced apartments has risen, especially for buildings with above-ground parking. Lower bookings from international visitors are being offset by bookings from local residents, albeit at slightly lower rates.

Some expatriates have decided to go back to their home countries and others are relocating to Pattaya.

Many companies have rented hotel rooms near their offices for their staff and expatriates, with hotels near the airport showing high occupancy

[norice]

Status Report,

All clear and dry in Ratchada-HuayKwang! California WOW has no bottle water and no towels to members!

[chanyboy]

Originally Posted by norice

Status Report,

All clear and dry in Ratchada-HuayKwang! California WOW has no bottle water and no towels to members!

pack your bags & travel out to Philippines, USA, Indon Bali...

[norice]

chanyboy,

No, I'm going to Bikit Bintang! All the girls from Nataree told me to tell you, don't worry, you still can have 3 shots!

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated 28 October 2011 :-

Sukhumvit sois 48, 50 flooded

A section of a dyke along Phra Khanong canal has collapsed, releasing an enormous amount of water into Bangkok's Sukhumvit soi 48 and soi 50.

Khlong Toey district chief Wiparat Chaiyanukit said on Friday the breach was about 10 metres long.

Mrs Wiparat said about 50 soldiers and workers from the Department of Drainage and Sewerage were piling up sandbags to plug the opening in the dyke.

The dyke should be repaired before high tide this evening, she said.

A bridge on Sukhumvit soi 62 and nearby elevated roads were filled with cars and motorcycles as motorists feared that the rising water would damage their vehicles.

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated 28 October 2011 :-

Thonburi faces serious flood threat

Possibility is high for the Thonburi side of Bangkok west of the Chao Phraya river to be under.50 metre - 1 metre of floodwater in a few days if more northern runoff is allowed to flow into the area, said the deputy director of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Drainage and Sewerage Department.

Chainat Niyomthoon said to be severely affected are areas along the banks of the Chao Phraya river and canals.

He said he was afraid the worst would come because water in various canals on the Thonburi side of the river, especially Khlong Mahasawat which is the main one, was on the verge of overflowing the banks.

If the northern runoff was allowed to flow into the area in a bigger volume than it was now, possibility was high for the entire of Thonburi to be flooded and the water level would be from 50 centimetres 1m high depending on the ground levels.

"What the BMA can do if that happens is tell the peple to evacuate the area immediately," Mr Chainat said.

[norice]

Status Report:

Absolutely no floods in Sukhumvit and Ratchada-HuayKwang! Sunny with clear blue sky!

[PleasureEmpire]

Originally Posted by norice

Status Report:

Absolutely no floods in Sukhumvit and Ratchada-HuayKwang! Sunny with clear blue sky!

Thks for the update.

[scorelan]

Originally Posted by norice

Status Report:

Absolutely no floods in Sukhumvit and Ratchada-HuayKwang! Sunny with clear blue sky!

Thanks for the updates Bro Norice. Cheers.

[indianmagicoil]

Bangkok is screwed by the floods. Go Patts! Or go south!

[naemlo]

Originally Posted by indianmagicoil

Bangkok is screwed by the floods. Go Patts! Or go south!

Should be screwed by the power struggling.

[indianmagicoil]

Red & Yellow politics screwing each other from the back until they screw the whole country and now Krungthep is screwed. We should not care too much about them screwing each other but when, where and how to get our next screw!

[KatoeyLover69]

Report from Bangkok Post dated 29 October 2011 :-

All of Thon Buri faces inundation - Defence of west part of Chao Phraya in jeopardy

The entire Thon Buri area is expected to be submerged within three days due to signs that northern runoff could overwhelm attempts by City Hall and irrigation officials to defend the western part of the Chao Phraya River.

With floodwater levels rising by between 50cm and 1m, Chainat Niyomthoon, deputy director of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration's Department of Drainage and Sewage, expected the water to eventually overflow several canals including Khlong Maha Sawat in Thawi Watthana district.

"We have received information about high water levels in several canals, particularly Khlong Maha Sawat, a main canal in the Thon Buri area," Mr Chainat said yesterday.

The BMA and navy were jointly installing 180 sheet piles to reinforce the dyke along Maha Sawat canal but the water level appeared to be too much to handle.

That prompted Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra to announce last night that residents living in all areas of Thawi Watthana should immediately evacuate to higher ground.

Thawi Watthana is the fourth district in Bangkok where people have been ordered to leave their homes, besides Don Muang, Bang Phlat and Sai Mai.

Apart from Khlong Maha Sawat, the southern railway track, which runs parallel to the canal, is another barrier to prevent floodwaters going downstream.

But Chaiyaporn Promsuwan, director of the Irrigation Office's Phra Pimol irrigation project, said the track, which is 3m above sea level, could be inundated and was unable to shield Thon Buri from flooding.

"The southern track may not be able to withstand [the massive volume of floodwater] in the next two to three days. This will result in heavy flooding in Bangkok's Thon Buri and adjacent areas in Nakhon Pathom," Mr Chaiyaporn said.

If floodwaters managed to breach the southern track, the lower part of Bangkok would be badly hit, he added.

"Severe damage will happen if people are not evacuated from the area before anticipated floods arrive," he warned

Meanwhile, the Flood Relief Operations Command last night said five locations have been set aside as gathering points for people leaving the areas.

They are the Thailand-Japan Stadium in Din Daeng, Fashion Island on Rarm Intra Road, Holland Beer on Rama II Road, the Mall department store in Bang Khae and Wat Sri Iem in Bang Na.

People should gather there before being sent to shelters, or transported to other provinces if they do not want to stay in Bangkok, Froc spokesman Thongthong Chandarangsu said.

The BMA has designated an area under the Vacharapol expressway and Wat Phra Si Maha That as two gathering points for residents affected by flooding in Bang Khen district before they are evacuated to shelter centres.

The gathering point beneath the expressway was for flood victims from the Tha Raeng area while Wat Phra Si Maha That was for residents living in the Anusawari area, Bangkok governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra said after inspecting the flood level at Ying Charoen market.

Several areas in Bang Khen district have been inundated, forcing residents to leave their houses to take refuge at nine shelter centres in the district.

The BMA has sped up the drainage of water from Khlong Song canal in Sai Mai district through other canals in the adjacent Bang Khen district before draining it to the Chao Phraya River.

The Bangkok governor said Anusawari and Tha Raeng had been affected by flooding. The two areas accounted for 20% of Bang Khen district.

The BMA has placed Bang Khen under special watch as a huge amount of the northern runoff was flowing into the district, MR Sukhumbhand said.

The flooding in Bangkok is still worrisome as the water level of the Chao Phraya River is expected to rise to between 2.5-2.6 metres above sea level today as a result of high sea tides.