Thailand & flooding: “the never-ending story”
When we see the misery that the flood has caused in Wallonia and the basin of the Meuse in recent days, we quickly forget that floods cause problems in Thailand almost every year. In fact, they used to be an integral part of the ecosystem in the basin of major rivers such as the Mekong, Chao Phraya, Ping or Mun.
Flood in Ubon
A week ago I reported that 81 cm of rain had fallen in Ubon in 2 weeks. In the past week, 17 cm has been added, including showers of 7 cm in a few hours. So we are now at almost a meter of rain in 3 weeks.
Bangkok threatens to disappear under water
The 'Venice of the East' is Bangkok's nickname. The many canals (klongs) are world famous, as are the long tail boats that are extremely popular with tourists. But a catastrophe threatens the capital with its more than 12 million inhabitants. Experts have been calling for years that the city is in danger of being flooded due to rising sea levels and subsidence of the soil.
Flooding occurs in Thailand every year, usually resulting in hundreds of deaths. The rainy season is now in full swing and the first reports of new floods are already coming in.
Thailand's economy is growing at double digits
Thailand's economy grew by double digits in the first quarter of 2012, despite last year's devastating floods, official data shows. Gross domestic product (GDP) grew 11 percent from the previous quarter, when the economy was already up 10,8 percent, according to the National Economic and Social Development Board (NESDB). GDP rose 0,3 percent compared to the same period in 2011.
News from Thailand – April 1, 2012
Only 10 percent of rivers and canals in areas at risk of flooding have been dredged so far. But the Water Resources Department is confident the work will be done when the rainy season begins.
Floods: Low confidence Japanese companies
Japanese investors have serious doubts about the government's ability to prevent floods like last year. Some labour-intensive companies could move abroad because of the increase in the minimum wage as of April 1.
TU Delft is investigating flooding problems in Thailand
Commissioned by the Expertise Network for Water Safety (ENW), a network of experts in the field of water safety, a TU Delft delegation visited Thailand to investigate the flooding problem in Thailand together with experts from the local Kasetsart University.
News from Thailand – March 1
Elephant park operators have threatened blockades by their jumbos if the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation continues to seize elephants from private zoos.
News from Thailand – Leap Day February 29
Thailand has no suitable plan for draining water to the sea. The country has so far relied on natural waterways and canals dug in the time of King Rama V. "We face flooding problems every year but no government has ever come up with an effective water drainage system," said Pramote Maiklad, former director of the Royal Irrigation Department, at a seminar in Ayutthaya on Tuesday.
News from Thailand – February 27
Forty percent of the 838 businesses that were flooded last year at industrial sites in Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani have now resumed production. Half will be up and running again within this quarter and eighty percent in the third quarter, expects Minister Pongsvas Svasti (Industry).
News from Thailand – February 26
For seven consecutive days, the northern provinces are already suffering from a dense haze, which is worse than the haze crisis 5 years ago. The affected provinces are Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang, Nan, Phrae and Phayao. Mae Hong Son is the only province where the level of airborne dust particles does not exceed the safety standard.
News from Thailand – February 16
Plans for the construction of a new waterway along the east side of Bangkok are ready. During the rainy season, this channel drains water from the Central Plains to the Gulf of Thailand. This was announced by Deputy Prime Minister Kittiratt Na-Ranong yesterday.
News from Thailand – Valentine's Day February 14
Thailand may be hit by 27 typhoons and 4 tropical storms this year. The country can expect 20 billion cubic meters of water, the same as last year, but Bangkok will not be flooded this time. The sea level will be 15 cm higher than last year.
Open letter to Mrs. Yingluck Shinawatra
Next week you and an entire government delegation will visit the areas affected by the flood. Among others, visits are planned to Uttaradit, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Sawan, Chai Nat, Lopburi and Ayutthaya.
News from Thailand – February 9
Ridiculous and disgusting. For example, in its editorial, the Bangkok Post mentions Friday's gala dinner at which the staff of the (quote) "incompetent and inefficient" Flood Relief Operations Command (FROC), the government's crisis center during last year's floods, as well as others by the government be put in the spotlight.
News from Thailand – February 8
The Chao Praya and Noi Rivers in Ayutthaya are about to burst their banks due to rainfall in the North and Central Plains and as additional water is discharged from the Bhumibol and Sirikit reservoirs. This is done to ensure that they do not contain too much water at the beginning of the rainy season in May, as they did last year.