Water continues to rise in Nakhon Sawan
Also yesterday, the water level continued to rise in Nakhon Sawan, the province that flooded after a levee breached on Monday. The flow rate of the Chao Praya, where five northern rivers converge, was 4.686 cubic meters per second on Thursday, 8 cubic meters more than on Wednesday. The water is 67 centimeters above the riverbank and three meters in some places in the capital. The electricity has been cut off; a number of people have sought safety in one of …
More monsoon rains in Thailand
The Meteorological Department warns of prolonged rains in the northeast and central provinces due to a monsoon trough moving across the country. The temperature drops by 2 to 4 degrees, which is caused by a high pressure area coming from China and moving over the regions in the north and northeast. Heavy rains are expected on Monday and Tuesday in the three northeastern provinces of Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen and Ubon Ratchatani. The culprit is a…
The fifty district offices in Bangkok have to prepare for evacuations because the flood wall 15 km north of the capital, made up of 200.000 sandbags, cannot hold back the water if it continues to rise. This instruction was given by Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra after he inspected the 5 km long and 1,5 m high embankment. 'If the water keeps rising, I am not sure if it can prevent flooding. If not, we cannot save Don Mueang. All zones…
'No natural disaster; reservoirs filled with water for too long'
The current heavy floods are not a natural disaster, says Smith Dharmasajorana. His explanation is as shocking as it is plausible: the managers of the large reservoirs have held water for far too long for fear that they would run out of water during the dry season. Now they have to discharge huge amounts of water at the same time and combined with the rains, this results in all kinds of misery, from Nakhon Sawan to Ayutthaya. Smith should know, as he is a former director general of…
Americans in Bangkok must prepare for emergencies
To emphasize the seriousness of the situation once again, the US embassy (bangkok.usembassy.gov) has issued a warning for its citizens in Bangkok. The website of the embassy states that it is advisable to prepare for possible flooding. American citizens in Bangkok would do well to put together an emergency kit, consisting of: At least a three-day supply of water for drinking and sanitation (one gallon of water …
In Bangkok they wait for the calf to drown
Are the authorities only now realizing that water flows from north to south in Thailand? It seems as if the Bangkok city council only ordered the dredging of seven canals in two districts on Tuesday. Also only yesterday a start was made with closing three 'holes' in the protection of Bangkok on the north side. And then there are the many sewers, drainages and canals that need to be cleaned urgently…
Nakhon Sawan licks his wounds after dike breach
Downtown Nakhon Sawan has turned into a quagmire after the city experienced its worst flooding since 1995 on Monday. The Ping River made a hole in the levee, after which an enormous amount of water flowed up the Pak Nam Pho market and beyond. Thousands of residents had to leave home and hearth and were directed to dry land. Yesterday the newspaper reported that provincial employees and soldiers tried in vain to close the gap, today the newspaper writes that municipal workers …
Bangkok ill-prepared for flood
There are three 'holes' in the protection of Bangkok against water from the North and they must be closed quickly. In Phatum Thani (north of Bangkok) a 10-kilometre sandbag embankment is being constructed, the flood barrier along Rangsit Khlong 5 (also on the north side of Bangkok) is being constructed from 1,5 million sandbags and behind the Mahidol University campus in Taling Chan comes number 3. The three flood walls have to drain the water through the …
Dyke breach in Nakhon Sawan
Half past eleven Monday morning: a dike of sandbags and concrete along the Chao Praya river collapses: 627 villages in Nakhon Sawan province are flooded. Half an hour later: an inland vessel collides with the dike, causing the hole to expand to 100 metres. The water reaches a height of about 1 meter. Nakhon Sawan faced the 'fury' of the Chao Praya, as the Bangkok Post headlined. The levee breach occurred…
Ayutthaya hospital evacuated
The four hundred patients of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya hospital have been evacuated. Nine patients who are in a coma have been taken to hospitals in Bangkok. The message does not mention where the other patients have been taken, apart from the rather vague term 'safe areas'. Since the area was flooded three days ago, ten patients have died, but according to the hospital management, this was not the result of the flood. Two patients died during the evacuation. The water …
Travel advice Thailand due to flooding
Thailand travel advice, updated on October 11, 2011, from the Dutch Embassy in Bangkok.
Thailand is considering evacuation of residents from ten provinces
Residents in ten Central Plains provinces, including the hard-hit province of Ayutthaya, must prepare for evacuation. The authorities in those provinces decide when necessary. The city island of Ayutthaya was hit hard on Sunday because the water broke through the flood walls in several places. The ten provinces are Ayutthaya, Ang Thong, Chai Nat, Chachoengsao, Lop Buri, Nakhon Sawan, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Sing Buri and Uthai Thani. Ayutthaya Provincial Hospital,…
Bangkok governor swallows his words about flooding
Bangkok Governor Sukhumband Paribatra has backtracked on his promise that the capital would escape major flooding. "I never promised the city wouldn't flood," he says. 'Flooding could happen anytime but the important thing is preventive measures and how to drain the water.' Breaking news: Authorities have been ordered to set up 80 evacuation centers in nine eastern districts of the city. They can house 8.000 to…
Belgian ambassador warns compatriots about flooding
The Belgian embassy in Thailand has warned all compatriots by e-mail about the current floods and what may come. The editors of Thailandblog have taken over the message in full.
Bangkok prepares for floodwaters (video)
Bangkok is preparing to protect the Thai capital against flooding. Thousands of people in Thailand have fled their homes as floods threaten to engulf entire towns and cities. More than 260 people have been killed by the heavy monsoon rains of the past two months. Authorities are working around the clock to stop the water coming towards the capital. In the areas around the capital of Thailand, sand traps and flood walls have been placed. The army is…
12 Chinese killed and dumped in Mekong
They lay with tied hands behind their backs, blindfolded and with a broken neck in the Mekong: the bodies of the 12-man crew of two Chinese freighters that were hijacked by drug traffickers on Wednesday. The bodies were found Friday and Saturday. The drug traffickers did not have much fun on the ships, because the same day a gunfight took place with soldiers guarding the border. One of them was killed in the process; the others saw opportunity…
Flood damage in Thailand could reach 90 billion baht
It is crisis in Thailand. The floods in large parts of the country continue and the capital Bangkok is also experiencing flooding. The death toll has already risen above 270 and this number is being revised upwards daily. Shortage of sandbags Yesterday the Bankokians started hoarding rice, water and noodles. Today, people are also preparing for what may come. In this way, for…