Here’s the latest as of 6 p.m. Bangkok time today, Thurs. November 10, 2011:
Overview
- The northern sections of Bangkok continue to be the hardest hit.
- Some MRT (subway) and BTS Skytrain stations are being monitored as waters draw near, but so these networks continue to operate normally.
- Central Bangkok is still largely dry.
- Thailand’s international airport, Suvarnabhumi, is still functioning normally. Don Muang airport remains closed, but most domestic flights are now going through Suvarnabhumi.
Images from a crocodile hunting expedition
As promised, here are some images I snapped yesterday during an outing to search for a suspected crocodile in the Ramintra area of northern Bangkok.
Officials at Thailand’s Fisheries Dept. received a call from residents there saying they had seen what appeared to be a crocodile eating two of their chickens. So the croc experts set out to investigate.
These images show the extent of the flooding in this part of the city. You can see all of the photos in this Flickr set.
I was impressed by the diligence and good humor that the workers displayed, and I thought that the residents were remarkably upbeat given their difficult circumstances.
For the record: No crocodile was found, though the officials left some traps baited with raw chicken just in case.
Above: you have to love the croc illustration
Above: taking to the waters
Above: residents who reported the croc sighting
Above: neighbors
Above: searching
Above: on the lookout
New maps
Here’s a map from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration that I understand shows flooding depths in the city. Screen shot:
Meanwhile, Richard Barrow, of ThaiTravelNews, is maintaining a Bangkok Flood Map for Tourists:
View Bangkok Flood Map for Tourists – แผนที่น้ำท่วมกรุงเทพสำหรับนักท่องเที่ยว in a larger map
News reports
Reuters says:
Thai consumer confidence fell to a 10-year low in October because of flooding that has taken 533 lives and shut thousands of factories, with another industrial estate threatened on Thursday as water spread in the east of the capital, Bangkok
Bloomberg reports:
Thai economic forecasters said floods that have swamped factories and displaced millions over the past month may crimp gross domestic product growth this year to as little as 0.5 percent if all of Bangkok is inundated.
(All emphasis mine.)
The standard reminders:
- You can find past posts by clicking the Thailand flooding tag.
- You can follow me on Twitter for more: @Newley.
- You can connect with my Facebook page.
- And you can sign up for RSS updates, or join my email list.
- And finally: I receive many emails asking for travel advice, but I’m afraid I can’t offer tips. Sorry
Administrative reminder
I may not post every day going forward, but will aim to share major developments and useful resources as time allows.