Author: Newley

Just briefly: I have received emails asking for an update on the flooding situation here in Thailand. So here goes:

Summary

In short, there’s not much new to report. Waters are reportedly draining slowly from affected areas, which are generally Bangkok’s western and northern outskirts.

This Nov. 12 WSJ map shows that the parts of the city that have been hit are areas that tourists are unlikely to visit:

Phuket, Chiang Mai, Pattaya, and other parts of the country — aside from central Thailand and Ayutthaya — have not been affected.

The international airport, Suvarnabhumi, continues to function normally. Don Muang, the domestic airport, remains closed, but domestic flights are operating via Suvarnabhumi.

The BTS (Sky Train) and MRT are still fine.

Central Bangkok is still dry.

Following the flooding news

Going forward, I will only post about the floods if there are significant developments.

For more frequent updates, I suggest consulting the government’s travel information site, ThailandTourismUpdate.com.

There’s an update from yesterday (Nov. 21), for example, that provides a run-down of the situation.

And of course, you can also consult the Bangkok Post and Nation newspapers.

A Google News search for “Thailand flooding” may also be helpful.

Here’s the latest as of 7:30 p.m. today, Fri. November 18, 2011.

Note: There have been two interesting non-flooding-related developments here in Thailand and within the region recently.

First, the Thai government has reportedly discussed a pardon that could allow Thaksin to return.

And second, President Obama said today that Sec. of State Clinton will visit Myanmar next month.

These are both important stories, and I’m sure I’ll touch on them at length later. But for the time being, I will continue to focus on the flooding situation here.

Reminder: This post, like the last, will consist of links to notable news stories. I will post new maps and other images as I come across them.

For previous summaries of the flooding situation, see the Thailand flooding tag.

And as always, for more frequent updates, you can follow me on Twitter.

News reports

The WSJ‘s Southeast Asia Real Time says today:

Water levels may have receded significantly in parts of Bangkok after weeks of devastating flooding, and the number of affected provinces in the Thai capital is now just 20 compared with a high of 64. But as more than 5.3 million remain affected by the floodwaters, the crisis is far from over for the Thai kingdom. The death toll — now at 594, according to the Thai government — continues to rise steadily, with more than 60 deaths since last Thursday.

The NYT had this story yesterday about Sec. Hillary Clinton’s recent visit:

Thailand is still reeling from the Great Flood of 2011, but government officials stayed true to the country’s deeply ingrained sense of hospitality during the visit of its important guest. A large banner was strung on the facade of the evacuation center for flood victims welcoming Mrs. Clinton.

What Mrs. Clinton witnessed on Thursday was not a Potemkin village by any stretch. As she entered an air-conditioned sports complex that now serves as an evacuation center, flood victims sat on mats where they have slept every night for many weeks.

But in a land of almost instinctual deference and automatic smiles for foreign visitors, the organizers of Mrs. Clinton’s visit shielded her from a genuine encounter with the frustration and the stress felt by the tens of thousands of flood victims in the country.

Reuters said today:

Thailand’s worst floods in 50 years have hit tourism at the start of the high season, but the country has recovered quickly in the recent past from all sorts of scourges and some tour operators are hopeful a recovery might start next month.

Meanwhile, here’s a Nov. 15 travel alert from the U.S. Embassy in Bangkok:

…Floodwaters are generally receding, and the overall situation is improving. However, flooding still hampers transportation and limits access to some essential services in the affected areas.

(All emphasis mine.)

Here’s the latest as of 1 p.m. today, Wed. November 16, 2011:

Note: I have not come across any interesting new maps or images in recent days, so this post, along with future ones, may simply include links to notable news stories.

Remember that for previous summaries of the situation, maps, images, etc., see the Thailand flooding tag.

And for more frequent updates, you can follow me on Twitter.

News reports

The AP reports today:

Flood waters in Thailand’s capital are continually receding and all main streets will be dry in two weeks, authorities said Wednesday, providing long-overdue good news after months of inundation that have killed 564 people nationwide.

Also Wednesday, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton will announce a “substantial” aid package when she arrives on a hastily arranged trip to express solidarity, officials said.

A New York Times story from yesterday says:

Troops and army trucks are rolling through the streets of Bangkok again. But this time it is not to battle protesters or overthrow a prime minister.

Instead, they are ferrying residents around the city on heavy-duty military vehicles that can get through its flooded streets, with banners on each one reading “Royal Thai Army helping the people.”

In a country deeply divided over the military’s role in civilian life, Thailand’s top generals have used the floods, the worst the country has had in decades, as an opportunity to showcase the army’s friendlier side.

The WSJ‘s Southeast Asia Real Time reports:

Thailand’s transport authorities have a fresh flood problem — people are putting metal spikes on submerged roads.

In some parts of the country, unknown persons have placed spikes on the road in an apparent bid to puncture vehicle tires and prevent buses and supply trucks getting in and out of affected areas. Some officials suspect profiteers selling basic goods at inflated prices are to blame as they try to prevent relief efforts getting to badly affected areas. Others say boat operators might be sabotaging the relief effort because the arrival of trucks in flooded areas threatens their business.

And finally, for a glimpse at the lighter side of the Thai floods, check out the Thai Flood Hacks site, which showcases innovations like animal flotation devices and improvised boats.

Related AP story:

Flooded out but still want to make a fashion statement? Try these lime green rubber boots. Feeling stir crazy with the fetid waters surrounding your home? How about special snorkels to keep your car running in high water – or a jet ski to navigate submerged streets?

In Bangkok, a tireless Asian mega-city never shy about making a buck, an ongoing flood disaster has provided plenty of opportunity for business ingenuity to flourish.

(All emphasis mine.)

Here’s the latest as of 10:30 p.m. Bangkok time today, Mon. November 14, 2011:

Overview

• The northern sections of Bangkok continue to be the hardest hit, with large flood barriers — so-called “big bags” — creating controversy. (See the Bangkok Post story below.)
• MRT (subway) and BTS (Skytrain) stations continue to operate normally.
• Central Bangkok is still largely dry.
• Thailand’s international airport, Suvarnabhumi, continues to function normally. Don Muang airport remains closed, but most domestic flights are now going through Suvarnabhumi.
• One question that many people are asking now is: When will the floodwaters drain? The answer seems unclear.

New maps

The Wall Street Journal ran this helpful map Sat. that puts the Bangkok flooding in perspective and showing the area’s industrial estates:

This Bangkok Post map is several days old, but it shows roads that have been hit by flooding.

Here’s a bigger version.

News reports

The Bangkok Post says today:

City authorities and 20 flood-hit communities in Don Muang have come to a three-point agreement on the ‘big bag’ barrier problem, Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said on Monday afternoon.

And:

“The Don Muang residents don’t want to remove all the big bags. They only want some of them removed to relieve their hardship.

The WSJ reports today:

The Thai delegation came to the Asia summit here with a special agenda: to dispel doubts about the country’s future as the manufacturing hub of Southeast Asia, pledging massive investment to prevent a recurrence of the current devastating floods.

The New York Times‘s Latitude blog says today:

In the industrial estate of Lat Krabang, a few kilometers from Bangkok’s international airport, Honda workers clad in ghost white are standing around the shuttered factory, like the idle employees of a suspended space program. The floodwaters are approaching from the north and the east, raising canal levels and bubbling up through drainage systems. One of the men says that the defenses — sandbags and plastic sheets — can withstand one meter of water, but no more.

The AP reports from Ayutthaya:

Water fowl, monitor lizards and stray dogs have replaced the throngs of tourists at one of Thailand’s greatest historical sites. Record flooding has turned Ayutthaya’s ancient temples into islands, and a giant statue of the reclining Buddha appears to float miraculously on the lapping water.

The CSM ran this story last week:

Central Thailand’s devastating months-long flood, which has so far cost some 500 lives and billions of dollars in damage, has made for countless poignant scenes and memorable images. But that hasn’t stopped some journalists from staging their own, highlighting an ongoing issue that undermines the credibility and purpose of reporting.

(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.

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.