Bangkok braces for tropical storm 'Gaemi'
This weekend it will rain heavily and storms in large parts of Thailand so predict the Thai meteorological services.
The tropical storm 'Gaemi' is moving at a speed of 10 km per hour from the South China Sea via Vietnam to Thailand. On October 6, northeast, east and central Thailand are expected to experience strong winds and heavy to very heavy rainfall.
Bangkok braces itself
Especially the heavy rainfall will cause a lot of inconvenience in Bangkok. It has already rained more than usual in Bangkok in the past month, with the result that the rainwater can no longer be properly drained. The residents of Bangkok have to take into account road diversions and poorly accessible streets. Daily traffic problems will therefore increase.
Preparation for flooding
The authorities in Bangkok are busy draining the water as well as possible. The weirs in the khlongs have been opened to accelerate the drainage of water, so that they can immediately collect enough water. Furthermore, the municipality has 95 emergency units, known as BEST (Bangkok Emergency Service Team), ready to help people in need. 5 million sandbags will also be filled. The municipality has already installed more water pumps and in some khlongs boats are ready to speed up the water flow.
The Interior Ministry has stockpiled food supplies and prepared communications equipment. The ministry warns residents in areas at risk of flooding and is already holding evacuation exercises there.
The army is on standby to help with transportation and to deal with traffic problems.
Next storm coming
Gaemi has just arrived or another tropical storm is already on its way. A second one will arrive on October 20 with the Thai name Phrapiroon. It will reach roughly the same area as Gaemi: the southern part of the Northeast, East, Central Plains and the northern part of the South. Somsak Khaosuwan, director of the National Disaster Warning Center, expects the second storm to weaken to a depression or low-pressure area when it reaches Thailand. There will be scattered showers, but not as bad as last month.
Severe weather
Provinces that must be extra alert for the approaching storm are: Ubon Ratchathani, Si Sa Ket, Surin, Buriram, Ayutthaya, Sing Buri, Chai Nat, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Ratchasima, Nakhon Nayok, Pathum Thani, Kanchanaburi, Suphan Buri, Ang Thong and Lop Buri.
See for more info: News from Thailand by Dick van der Lugt and the official website of the Thai Meteorological Service: www.tmd.go.th/en/
Those boats again to make the water flow faster? Doesn't anyone believe that that works?! At least you can achieve something with those overflow areas, pumps and so on.
If the boss says it works, then it works. Even if it demonstrably doesn't work. The boss always has brilliant thoughts and no one dares to say that the emperor has no clothes…
Indeed and unfortunately a fact of which I am deeply aware. So it was a rhetorical question.
This is one of the few things about Thailand that annoys me, not wanting to offend anyone and showing respect is of course wonderful, but automatically appreciating everyone who is one step higher and bowing to them does not help the country as a whole move forward. In fact, certain people are only victims of this. Let's hope that they don't waste too much manpower and material on those boats because every person who is potentially in danger as a result (too little manpower on other fronts) is one too many.
According to this site, Gaemi will not reach Thailand until Monday morning.
http://dutch.wunderground.com/tropical/tracking/wp201221.html
I hope the rain also reaches koh Phangan because the island is dry and we have water problems.
A few days ago I said on this blog that I did not believe that Gaemi will arrive here during the weekend. Apparently Thai meteorologists cannot read their own weather maps. That tropical storm will reach Bangkok in the form of a normal depression on Monday morning. It is likely that there will be slightly more rain than during the daily thunderstorm, but there is no reason to panic. Also take a look at the response from Fransamsterdam above.
@ Hans van den Pitak See Thai news of October 6: Thailand's turn on Sunday, Myanmar on Monday. The meteorological service describes the tropical storm as a depression upon arrival in Thailand. Authorities are still calling it a tropical storm. Maybe they have something to make up for last year.
Dick v/d Lugt: You don't know how happy you made me with the Thai (recent update) meteorological site you mentioned. I immediately started looking, and it gives me the update info I want. Thanks again! Last year around this time I was in Mahakarasan(isaan) and literally experienced it myself for a month WHATs GOING ON. Now I can give my girlfriend(s) there the information by phone. They are there in the middle of nowhere, without internet! THANKS.
@ Willem You are wrong. Not I referred you to a website, but Frans Amsterdam. I just quoted the meteo, which no longer mentions a tropical storm. See my Thai news of October 6 and 7 (to be posted later).
Fly to Amsterdam at the end of the month… whether or not to spend a few days in BKK? I'm still looking at it I think 🙂
@ MC Veen The reports about the tropical storm seem overblown. Both Gaemi and the next tropical storm will only bring heavy downpours, which are not uncommon in Thailand. See my Thai news of October 6 and 7.
The authorities seem to be overreacting. Last year they did not respond or reacted too slowly. Maybe they learned something after all.
Dear Tjamuk, even the biggest morons can lie to people. Promises are debt! I think a lot of promises were made in the election year…