Flooding situation has become more stable

28 November 2011

Flood waters have receded in most of the affected areas of Thailand’s central region and cleanup operations have taken place. Central Bangkok has remained dry. Flood waters are receding in many of the outlying districts of greater Bangkok. State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and inter-provincial bus services are now operating as per normal.

Provinces in the north and northeast of Thailand were not affected by the flood. In the central region, tourist destinations such as Hua Hin and Pattaya were also not affected by the flood.

The flood in the central region did not affect provinces in the south. Some southern provinces are experiencing localized flooding due to seasonal rains. Tourist attractions in the south are not affected except for water-related activities in mountainous areas.

Almost all key tourist destinations and attractions throughout Thailand were not affected by the flood. The main tourist attraction affected was the World Heritage Site in Ayutthaya, where the water receded in early November. The site has been cleaned up and is open to tourists. A few parts of the World Heritage Site require restoration, which the Fine Arts Department is doing in close co-operation with UNESCO.

As the flooding situation has become more stable, the TAT will provide further situation updates as needed to reflect changing conditions.

Situation in Bangkok
Central Bangkok remains dry. Areas still flooded in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area include suburbs in the east and west, the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, and districts in the northern part of the city.

In central Bangkok, businesses, hotels, shops and tourist attractions are open as per normal in areas including:

	Chatuchak			Ratchaprasong (Central World area)
	Khao San Road			Sathorn
	Phetchaburi Road			Siam Square/ MBK/ Siam Paragon
	Ploenchit/ Chidlom			Silom/ Surawongse
	Pratunam			Sukhumvit Road/ The Emporium
	Rama I Road			Yaowarat (Chinatown)
	Rama IV Road			Siam Park City

Tourists who want to check the latest conditions can call the TAT Information Line at 1672 or visit TAT’s official Web site for flood information: http://www.thailandtourismupdate.com. Travel service operators can also provide additional information.

The BTS Skytrain and MRT subway are operating normally. Taxis and tuk tuks are available as per normal. Some BMTA bus routes are still rerouted or suspended due to the flooding. Express boat services on the Chao Phraya River have largely resumed.

Transportation

State Railway of Thailand and inter-provincial bus services:
State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and inter-provincial bus services are operating as per normal. All train services from Bangkok to northern, northeastern, and southern Thailand now operate from Hua Lamphong Station. Inter-provincial buses leave their regular terminals in Bangkok: the Southern Bus Terminal, also known as Sai Tai Mai; and the Mo Chit 2 Bus Terminal.

Suvarnabhumi Airport:
Suvarnabhumi Airport, the main international gateway to Thailand, remains open and will not be affected by the flood. Suvarnabhumi Airport is the main connector for international arrivals to domestic flights serving tourist destinations throughout Thailand. Transportation to and from the airport into central Bangkok including taxis, buses and the Airport Rail Link are operating normally.

Attractions in Ayutthaya are open:
Flood waters have subsided in Ayutthaya and cleanup operations are largely complete. Tourist attractions in Ayutthaya including the World Heritage Site are accessible to tourists. The site will be officially reopened once a detailed inspection by the Fine Arts Department is complete.

Most attractions in Ayutthaya are now open and welcoming visitors, including:

	Ayutthaya Royal Elephant Kraal
	Chankasem National Museum
	Chao Sam Phraya National Museum
	Phom Phet (The Diamond Fort)
	Phra Chedi Sisuriyothai
	Wat Lokkaya Suttha
	Wat Mahathat
	Wat Na Phra Men Ayutthaya
	Wat Phanan Choeng Worawihan, Ayutthaya
	Wat Phanom Yong
	Wat Phra Ram
	Wat Phra Si Sanphet
	Wat Phu Khao Thong and King Naresuan Monument
	Wat Phutthaisawan
	Wat Ratchaburana Ayutthaya
	Wat Ratchapraditsathan
	Wat Senasanaram Ratchaworawihan
	Wat Thammikarat
	Wat Tum, Ayutthaya
	Wat Wora Pho
	Wat Yai Chaimongkol

Information sources:
TAT’s official Web site for flood information: www.thailandtourismupdate.com

English-language sources:
The Government Public Relations Department: http://thailand.prd.go.th/
BMA Announcement on Flooding Situation in Bangkok:
http://www.bangkokgis.com/flood/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&
id=34&Itemid=90
Airports of Thailand: http://www.suvarnabhumiairport.com/index_en.php

Thai- language sources:
Flood Relief Operation Center (FROC): http://www.floodthailand.net/
BMA Flood Control Center: http://203.155.220.231/intranet/Forecast/fcc.htm
BMA Announcement on Flooding Situation in Bangkok:
http://www.bangkokgis.com/flood/index.php?option=com_content&view=category&
id=1&Itemid=65
State Railway of Thailand: http://www.railway.co.th/home/Default.asp

English-language newspapers offering continuous updates on the flooding situation:
Bangkok Post: http://www.bangkokpost.com
The Nation: http://www.nationmultimedia.com

 

Flooding in Thailand

10 November 2011

The flooding situation in Thailand is mainly affecting the central provinces along the Chao Phraya River including Bangkok. Flood waters are subsiding in Ayutthaya. Other popular tourist destinations in the central region including Pattaya, Hua Hin, Kanchanaburi and Ko Chang have not been affected by the floods. Tourist destinations in the south of Thailand including Phuket, Krabi, Surat Thani, Ko Samui, Hat Yai and Phang-Nga; and in the north including Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Sukhothai, also have not been affected by the floods.

Flood waters in Ayutthaya and some other central provinces have begun to subside, although many areas are not yet fully accessible. Tourist attractions in Ayutthaya will reopen once they have been restored.

In some areas, tourists may find that there are occasional shortages of consumer products that are in high demand such as local brands of water and locally-bottled beer. These products are replenished periodically. Imported products including beer and bottled water are widely available.

The Transport Ministry is preparing alternate routes between Bangkok and the southern provinces in case some parts of Highway 35, a major road to the south also known as Rama II Road, is affected by the flood waters draining to the west of the city.

Situation in Bangkok
Areas flooded in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area include suburbs in the east and west, the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, and districts in the northern part of the city.

In central Bangkok, businesses, hotels, shops and tourist attractions remain open as per normal in areas including:

	Khao San Road			Ratchaprasong (Central World area)
	Phetchaburi Road			Sathorn
	Ploenchit/ Chidlom			Siam Square/ MBK/ Siam Paragon
	Pratunam			Silom/ Surawongse
	Rama 1 Road			Sukhumvit Road/ The Emporium
	Rama 4 Road			Yaowarat (Chinatown)

Given the rapidly changing nature of the flooding situation in Bangkok, visitors should check multiple sources of information to make an informed decision about whether they should visit central Bangkok at the present time.

The BTS Skytrain and MRT subway are operating normally at this time. Some MRT stations have closed certain entrances as a precaution. Visitors are advised to check with the BTS and MRT regarding the current status of their operations. Taxis and tuk tuks are available although the number in service is reduced. Many BMTA bus routes have been rerouted or suspended due to the flooding. Express boat services on the Chao Phraya River have also been suspended, as have most water-related tourist activities.

Transportation

Airports:
Bangkok is served by two airports. Suvarnabhumi Airport, the main international gateway to Thailand, remains open. It has considerable flood protection measures in place. Suvarnabhumi Airport is the main connector for international arrivals to domestic flights serving tourist destinations throughout Thailand such as Phuket, Chiang Mai and Surat Thani. Domestic flights are operating as per normal between Suvarnabhumi Airport and other airports in Thailand.

Transportation to and from the airport into central Bangkok including taxis, buses and the Airport Rail Link have not been affected by the floods and are operating normally. Highways from the airport to tourist destinations southeast of Bangkok such as Pattaya, Rayong and Ko Chang are open.

Don Mueang Airport, the old international airport, is closed due to flooding. The two domestic airlines operating from Don Mueang have temporarily switched their operations to Suvarnabhumi Airport.

A “Tourist Assistance Center” is set up on the 3rd floor of Airport Rail Link’s Makkasan Station to facilitate tourists’ transport from hotels in central Bangkok to the airport. The TAT and the Thai Hotels Association (THA) are providing free transportation from hotels to Makkasan Station. The Tourist Police will assist tourists at Makkasan Station and at the airport. Tourists who would like to use this service can contact the Tourist Assistance Center via the TAT Call Center at 1672, or the Tourist Police at 1155.

State Railway of Thailand and inter-provincial bus services:
State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and inter-provincial bus services are operating as per usual in areas that are not affected by the floods. In Bangkok and other areas affected by the floods, the SRT and inter-provincial bus service operators are adjusting their routes to best serve passengers given the disruptions caused by the flooding. Inter-provincial buses from Bangkok to southern provinces are leaving from a temporary station with shuttle services to and from the Southern Bus Terminal, also known as Sai Tai Mai.

Train services to northeastern Thailand are operating as per normal. Train services to the northern provinces are operating between Hua Lamphong station in central Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Trains to the north are being rerouted around flooded areas, adding approximately two hours of travel time. Train services to the southern provinces are operating mainly from Nakhon Pathom due to flooding in Bangkok’s western suburbs. The SRT is providing shuttle bus services between Hua Lamphong station and Nakhon Pathom. Travelers are advised to check in advance with these operators and may want to consider flying to their destinations within Thailand.

In deep… water

470 places in Bangkok truly ‘under water’

07/11/11

A total of 470 spots in Bangkok are now under 80cm of water or more, affecting more than 800,000 people, Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said on Monday.A survey by district offices of the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration showed this was the case at 95 places in Sai Mai, 81 in Nong Khaem, 71 in Bang Phlat, 48 in Khlong Sam Wa, 34 in Bang Khae, 31 in Min Buri and the rest in other flood-hit districts.”The BMA has ordered the district offices and their agencies to pay special attention to these places because a large number of people, especially the elderly, have not evacuated the area,” MR Sukhumbhand said.

“The BMA will have to give them food, drinking water and other items for survival,” he said.Bangkok authorities today declared Bang Chan sub-district of Khlong Sam Wa district and more sub-districts of Lat Phrao evacuation areas because of heavy flooding.

The entire district of Khlong Sam Wa is now an evacuation area.
The sub-districts of Lat Phrao that have been declared as evacuation zones are the whole of Chorakhebua sub-district and parts of Lat Phrao sub-district (along both sides of Khlong Lat Phrao to the east to Lat Pla Khao road, both sides of Lat Phrao-Wang Hin road, north of Prasert Manukit road, and both sides of Sena Nikhom road.)
The people in the two sub-districts are advised to seek refuge at a BMA evacuation centre.
The administration also declared more areas under special watch in Huay Khwang district.
They are communities along Khlong Bang Sue, Khlong Lat Phrao, and Lat Phrao road.This morning, the water level along Phahon Yothin Road from Kasetsart University to Ratchayothin and Lat Phrao intersections was 50 to 80 centimetres deep, reports said.The road was impassable to small vehicles and commercial buildings, shops, offices and banks along the road have been closed.The Bangkok Transit System (BTS) skytrain and Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) underground trains are still operating as usual although the floodwater around Phahon Yothin and Chatuchak stations was over 50cm deep. They are the fastest modes of transport for people travelling to and from the city.The floodwater was creeping toward Saphan Khwai intersection, in an inner district of Bang Sue.The flood this morning inundated the Kampaeng Phet intersection near Chatuchak market. The water was 30 to 40 centimetres deep, impassable for small vehicles.

Shops in Saphan Khwai area were reinforcing their floodwalls, placing more sandbags.
On Vibhavadi Rangsit road, the runoff from Lat Phrao intersection arrived at headquarters of the country’s largest local daily newspaper, Thai Rath, flooding all lanes of the main road outside the building.
The water was reported at 50cm deep and impassable for small cars.

From: Bangkokpost (online)

 

Flooding in Bangkok Unlikely to Reach a Critical Stage

(01/11/2011)

Since more flood water has been drained out from various canals in Bangkok to the sea, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra believed that flooding in the city was unlikely to reach a critical stage. Speaking at the Flood Relief Operations Center at the Energy Complex on Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, the Prime Minister revealed that the flooding situation in the city remained stable and if there were no more breached flood barriers, the situation would improve gradually after recent high tides. She said that the runoff from the North continued to head toward Bangkok, but it would not come in an enormous amount at the same time. Water management is being carried out to ensure that the flood water will not enter Bangkok quickly. The Government is accelerating water drainage in both the eastern and western parts of the city, although water diversion in the western part has been quite difficult. People have been urged to be vigilant for the upcoming two periods of high tides, one between November 11 and 17 and the other, from November 25 to 30. A report from the Flood Relief Operations Center said that, in the overall picture, the flood water from the North passing through Nakhon Sawan province is decreasing. The Royal Irrigation Department is now able to bring down the water level in the Chao Phraya Dam, and this will help reduce the water level in Bangkok. From November 3 to 15, the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives will tackle the problem of beached flood barriers in various areas and reinforce embankments to cope with the upcoming high tides. According to the Prime Minister, the Government has prepared an initial fund of 80 billion baht to provide urgent rehabilitation for affected individuals, small businesses, and farmers. The banking sector would extend more than 300 billion baht in credit to bring quick recovery to industrial estates. She pointed out that post-flood rehabilitation could take at least three months. As for affected Japanese investors, she said, the Government would provide them with assistance in various forms. President of TOT Public Company said that TOT had set up a center to monitor the flooding situation and look after its communication networks, so that the public and businesses would be able to continue to use them without disruption. TOT teams of engineers are working around the clock to help solve technical problems in the communication and telecommunication systems. The hotline of the TOT contact center is 1100. As many areas of Bangkok and its vicinity are suffering from floods, the Expressway Authority of Thailand decided to extend the free use of its three expressways, from November 1 to November 14. The three tollways are from At Narong-Ram Inthra to Lam Lukka, known as Chalong Rat; from Bang Na to Chon Buri, referred to as Burapha Withi; and from Bang Phli to Suk Sawat, known Kanchanaphisek. Motorists are not allowed to park their cars on expressways, which are used as transportation routes to send supplies and equipment to help flood victims.