Appeal launched for flood pics

A host of photographers, both professional and amateur, captured the mayhem caused in various parts of the country by the ongoing floods, the most destructive in living memory. 

While some of these images have already been widely circulated online and in the media, many remarkable shots may have yet to be uploaded or developed.

A photo of the flooded Wat Chaiwattanaram taken by HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn.

Last week, the Ministry of Culture issued an open invitation to members of the public to submit personal photos taken of the floods for possible display at an exhibition to be staged from December 8 to 30 on the 9th floor of Bangkok Art and Culture Centre (BACC), 

and from December 11 to 15 at the Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Tourism Complex in the Old City Hall in Ayutthaya.

Entitled Water+Empathy 2011, the show is being organised in tandem with the Royal Photographic Society of Thailand, the BACC, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration and the Tourism Authority of Thailand. 

Its aim is three-fold: to amass a pictorial record of the national disaster; to highlight the indomitable spirit of Thai people as they coped with the floods and extended a helping hand to others who needed it;

and to raise funds to allow the Fine Arts Department to restore sites of historic significance which have been inundated.

HRH Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn will be contributing some pictures she took while touring flooded areas. Photographs chosen for the exhibition will also be displayed online (visit www.bigcamera.co.th/Water+Empathy2011)

Still standing ... but for how long? The severe flooding in Ayutthaya underscored the need to improve measures to ensure the ancient capital's archeaological treasures aren't threatened by the ravages of nature

Ayutthaya's historical sites have withstood centuries of flooding, but the latest deluge may have delivered a fatal blow to some of the ancient capital's World Heritage-protected sites.

Workers build a scaffold to sustain the dramatically leaning temple wall at Wat Phra Sri Sanphet temple.

Damage to the buildings was compounded by the floodwater both surrounding the sites too quickly, and then being released too rapidly.

Fine Arts Department civil engineer Therdsak Yenjura says the structures have brick bases resting on soil without proper foundations. 

When the soil is soaked, the walls of the structures subside and lean in on each other. Uneven weight distribution of the structures increases pressure points.

Subsidence and weakening of the structures can be eased if the floodwater surrounding a historical structure is let out slowly, but this year over-eager local officials pumped the water out too quickly.

"If we change the conditions too quickly, it is hard for the sites to adjust and then they can suffer 'shock' from the changing conditions," said Mr Therdsak.

Archaeologists need to conduct further inspections to determine how many of about 130 flooded ancient sites in Ayutthaya have been seriously affected.

As a precautionary measure, authorities have decided not to quickly drain two-metre-deep floodwater surrounding Wat Chaiwattanaram, a major tourist attraction, for fear it could cause further damage.

At Phra Sri Sanphet temple, a stupa on the western side has had its brick foundations broken, as if pushed out by pressure from within.

The stupa is now leaning forward and was only noticed by a group of experts from Unesco and the Fine Arts Department on a recent inspection to determine the extent of damage to the historical sites.

"The stupa has demonstrated this symptom, which has not yet been given serious attention yet," said associate professor Warakorn Mairaing from the Engineering Institute of Thailand, who advises the bodies.

Ayutthaya city, which gained World Heritage status in 1991, has undergone major development to cope with population growth and tourism demands, and it has a well-planned drainage system that has served it well in past floods.

But those protecting the status of the area now agree that a new plan may be needed to protect Ayutthaya better from future flooding.

Mr Warakorn said a group of experts would meet this week to discuss possible short and long-term strategies to help safeguard the region's historical sites.

The possibility of building dykes around the sites has been raised, but critics say this would be out of kilter with the historical value of the area.

Vasu Poshyanandana, assistant secretary of the International Council on Monuments and Sites, Thailand, an advisory body to Unesco, said lessons could be learned from the past to address the issue.

Mr Vasu, also an official at the Fine Arts Department, said Ayutthaya was originally built with the understanding that it was surrounded by major rivers and would inevitably be flooded on occasion.

He said one possibility was reviving the ancient flood control system which used high walls and canals to control waters inside the city boundaries.

"Ayutthaya is not just about old structures, but it's a city with knowledge and wisdom," said Mr Vasu. "Ancient wisdom can be revived to help the city survive in modern times."

Phra Maha Cherdchai Katapunyo, the assistant abbot at Wat Phanang Cherng temple outside the old city said long-term prevention against flooding for the old city of Ayutthaya was needed to preserve it for the next generation.

The temple narrowly avoided being flooded this year by quickly erecting a 3.5m sandbag dyke.

Phra Maha Cherdchai Katapunyo said the temple staff could not fight the floodwater on their own.

"Our ancestors knew well what the situation was and that's why they developed city planning and a drainage system that would help save the city," he said.

"What we need now is a vision that can help us deal with modern problems and that serves our best interests over the long term."

Long recovery for old sites

The 1.5 -billion-baht restoration of flood-hit historical sites around the country will take two years to complete, says the Culture Ministry's Department of Fine Arts.

Anek Sihamat, deputy director-general of the department, said 313 historical sites were damaged by the flooding, 130 of them in Ayutthaya. The rest are in Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Bangkok each with about 20 ancient sites.

Mr Anek said he hoped that it would take two months to clean up the historical sites in Ayutthaya. He said a cleanup is the first step in the restoration process.

"[Of the total budget],we expect to spend roughly 600 million baht to restore and rehabilitate ancient sites," he said. "The biggest challenge for us is how to make these centuries-old-buildings resistant to flood damage.

"We don't know how to set up floodwater barriers around those ancient buildings. But we need to strengthen their structure so they can remain in water longer with less damage."

Mr Anek said the department is working with Japanese experts to hammer out measures to protect ancient sites from flooding and minimise damage.

In related news, Supot Prommanot, director of the department's third regional office, and who oversees historical sites in Ayutthaya and other central provinces, said his office will start fixing and restoring 

Wat Phra Sri Sanphet and Wat Mongkol Borpit as they are the most popular tourist attractions in Ayutthaya.

As for Wat Chaiwatthanaram, also popular among tourists, Mr Supot said the temple remains under two meters of water and the temple office is trying to drain water as quickly as possible so it can reopen for tourists.

Mr Supoj said the best way to ensure minimal damage is not to hasten the drainage, but to let the site dry naturally so that the the buildings do not become imbalanced.

"Some people think that the buildings might collapse if they remain under water for so long," he said.

"But in fact only the building surface is destroyed by moisture from water

Floods reduce the number of foreign tourists

The total number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand this year is expected to be 18.8 million, falling short of the previous target of 19.5 million visitors, according to the Tourism Department.

It will take a while before the Ayutthaya Historical Park and other attractions in areas affected by the floods see tourist numbers rise back to normal.

The target was revised after 28 provinces in the central region, including Bangkok have been flooded for the past couple of months, leaving millions of people homeless, the World Heritage Site in Ayutthaya submerged and accessibility by land to various provinces hampered.

During the first eight months of 2011, foreign tourists arriving in the country increased by 28.6% from last year to 12.9 million visitors, making the original target achievable, but the number of international visitors started to decline in September.

On average, the number of international tourists arriving in the country is in the range of 1.5-1.8 million visitors a month, but during September, the number dropped to 1.4 million visitors and there were about 90,000 fewer visitors in October.

For November, there are about 25,000 foreign tourists arriving in Thailand each day and the forecast for this month will drop by almost half to 750,000 visitors.

Although the Tourism Authority of Thailand has worked hard to promote other parts of the country that have not been affected by the floods, the target of 19.5 million visitors seems too high to reach.

The Kasikorn Research Centre also predicted that the flood situation in Bangkok will cause the tourism industry losses of 15-25 billion baht during the fourth quarter of this year.

If the floodwaters recede this month and the tourists are confident enough to visit the country in December, the total number of foreign tourists could reach 18.9 million visitors with an estimated loss of 15 billion baht.

If the flood situation continues to December, the total number of foreign tourists visiting Thailand this year could decline to 18.6 million visitors and business lost for the tourism industry alone could reach 25 billion baht.

Heritage help

The government has asked the Unesco office in Bangkok to help with the restoration of the World Heritage Site of Ayutthaya.

A Unesco expert team will also help assess the flood impact and help organise training programmes showing how to handle the reconstruction of damaged buildings, roads and historic monuments, said Unesco expert on Technical and Vocational Education and Training Youngsup Choi.

Thailand also applied for emergency assistance from the World Heritage Fund which will cover emergency measures and help to draw up an emergency plan for the safeguarding of the site.

Thailand has been a member of the World Heritage Convention since 1987. The historic city of Ayutthaya was inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1991.

Visit whc.unesco.org

Airlines update

- Thai Airways International has launched direct flights from Copenhagen to Phuket three times a week to promote the destination that has not been affected by the floods.

The first flight arrived in Phuket on November 12 with 88% of cabin capacity and the travel time was 10 hours and 35 minutes. On the return, passengers must fly back to Suvarnabhumi Airport to connect with THAI's flights to Copenhagen.

THAI also operates daily flights from Phuket to Hong Kong, Seoul and Perth. The percentage of passengers booked on these flights in December 2011 are 87, 80 and 65 respectively.

Visit www.thaiairways.com or call 02-356-1111.

Garuda Indonesia will increase its flights to Korea to serve the higher number of Korean passengers during the high season.

The airline will provide daily flights from Bali to Seoul this month and from Jakarta to Seoul in December.

"Korea is a prospective market for us and business between Korea and Indonesia is growing strongly," said the airline CEO Emirsyah Satar.

The number of Korean visitors to Indonesia topped three million last year, up 17% from the year before.

The airlines "Visa on Board" service with two immigration officers shortens the waiting time for passengers at immigration counters.

This service, which is currently offered on some Garuda flights, will soon be provided on the Seoul-Bali route, Emirsyah said.

Hotels update

- Anantara Rasananda Koh Phangan Villa Resort & Spa has been opened on Tong Nai Pan Noi beach, on the northeast of Koh Phangan in Surat Thani.

The luxurious resort offers 44 suites and villas, ranging in space from 100 to 250 square metres and each featuring a private plunge pool.


Other facilities include a restaurant, bar, beachfront infinity pool, spa, fitness centre, library with PCs, gift shop and 37-foot ocean cruiser for transfers and excursions.

Visit http://phangan-rasananda.anantara.com

- Cha Am Beach resort has been renamed Hotel de la Paix Cha Am Beach this month.

Owned by KS Resorts, the boutique hotel was originally known as Alila Hotel and Resort but was renamed Cha Am Beach resort after a management team change in April.

It provides 79 rooms, including seven villas with private pools and maintains the existing boutique design by well-known architect Duangrit Bunnag.

Based in Bangkok, KS Resorts also owns Hotel de La Paix Siem Reap, Hotel de la Paix Luang Prabang, 3 Nagas Luang Prabang, The Yamu Phuket and Park Hyatt Maldives.

Visit www.hoteldelapaixhh.com

Accor has opened Mercure Koh Chang Hideaway on Bai Lan Bay in Koh Chang, Trat.

Located about four kilometres from the popular Lonely Beach and three kilometres from Bang Bao fishing village, the luxurious resort provides 96 rooms and villas some of which also have private pools.

Other facilities include two restaurants, lobby bar, pool bar, swimming pool, fitness centre, spa and meeting room with a capacity to accommodate up to 200 guests.

Manufacturing shift to east of Bangkok boosts Thai Factory Development

Industrial-estate firm Thai Factory Development has raised its revenue estimate for the year from Bt800 million to Bt1.3 billion, thanks to rising demand for the construction of manufacturing plants to the east of Bangkok.

The company recorded revenue of Bt766.61 million and net profit Bt116.58 million in the first nine months of the year.

It achieved revenue of Bt370.42 million and a net loss of Bt46.17 million last year.

TFD's adviser to the board, Apichai Taechaubol, yesterday |said that two weeks ago the com-pany had sold three plots worth nearly Bt500 million combined |to Japanese auto-assembly |firms.

The companies have decided to set up plants at TFD Industrial Estate because it is in Chachoeng-sao province, which has not been hit by the severe flooding and is close to other auto manufacturing plants.

Meanwhile, some manufacturers badly affected by the floods in Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani provinces have moved their plants or warehouses to TFD Industrial Estate, which will drive the developer's revenue this year above its earlier estimate, he said.

Given the demand to move manufacturing to the east of Bangkok, the company has decided to buy 1,000 rai (160 hectares) of land close to its Chachoengsao estate for

Bt1.2 billion, so that it can establish another industrial estate.

TFD has also set aside Bt800 million to build infrastructure at the new estate next year.

Apichai said the company would also develop a new condominium project worth Bt3.2 billion in Hua Hin, with the grand opening and resales launch set for December 1.

The project, which targets home-buyers seeking a second residence, will commence construction in March and be completed in 2014.

"We target sales of about 15 per cent upon opening presales next month," he added.

The Hua Hin project is the company's second condominium, following the launch of a Bt3.3-billion project at Sukhumvit Soi 15 in Bangkok.

The Sukhumvit project has sold 50 per cent of its value and will be completed and transferred to customers next year.

Apichai said the main income of the company this year was from its industrial estate, but revenue next year would also be generated by condominium projects and the Anantara Sathorn Hotel in Bangkok.

Ex-senator blames officials for scale of disaster Lawyers Council seeks evidence of govt failure

Poor management, rather than huge amounts of rainfall, was to blame for the country's worst flooding in decades, a seminar has been told.

Former senator Sophon Supapong said yesterday flood damage could have been minimized if there had been better management of rising reservoir levels and drainage of run-off.

He said the run-off from the North flowed directly into Bangkok via Ayutthaya when it should have been diverted to the water catchment areas in the east of capital.

Mr Sophon said water and flood management procedures were politicized. He cited the opening of floodgates and breaches of flood barriers by certain groups.

Mr Sophon's comments were welcomed by participants at a seminar held at the National Institute of Development Administration (Nida).

The forum sought to find out what, if any, evidence there was for a growing campaign to sue the government for negligently handling the flood.

The Lawyers Council of Thailand has agreed to gather details and study how to proceed with such a case.

Jetsada Anujaree of the Lawyers Council said a suit could be filed if it could be established that the floods were caused by mismanagement or negligence. 

He was referring to news reports that two ministers obstructed the release of water to allow farmers downstream to harvest their crops.

"If we can prove that their action has resulted in overall mismanagement, they must be held responsible," he said.

Mr Jetsada also said the council will ask a judge to order state agencies to work out a natural disaster prevention and mitigation plan.

"Such a plan is essential and must go ahead," he added.

Sasin Chalermlarp, secretary-general of Seub Nakasathien Foundation, told the seminar he suspected there was a lack of unity in flood and water management. 

He said flooding was not unusual in the Central Plains, but it took too long for the government to drain the run-off to the sea as planned.

Natchapol Kerdkasem, a community leader, said residents in Bangkok will meet the governor on Nov 28 to propose their own rehabilitation plans. 

He added that each group would also put forward a flood prevention and management plan, which is a community right recognized by the charter.

Mr Natchapol said he was concerned that communities which clashed with authorities over flood barriers would be turned into scapegoats to let the government off the hook.

"The sight of people destroying flood-walls will be used to justify why flood management failed," he said.

Ayutthaya, after the floods Recovery and clean-up work under way for flood-affected areas in the ancient capital of Thailand

A group of French tourists were enjoying a buffet breakfast at the River View Place Hotel on U-Thong Road in Ayutthaya, a day after the floodwaters receded in the inner part of the ancient city, while hotel staff were packing food items for flood victims, which has become one of their routine jobs since the old capital of Siam was inundated.

Tourists travelled from Phitsanulok to Ayutthaya, a World Heritage site, after they were informed the water had been pumped out of the old town.

"Since November 8, about 10% of Ayutthaya has dried up," said Ayutthaya Governor Withaya Pewpong. The roads are now accessible to small vehicles and local officers have already started to collect garbage and clean up the city as of last week.

"We will spend the next 60 days draining out the water and reviving the city. We will bring normalcy back to the lives of the people affected by the floods by the end of this year as a New Year's gift," promised the governor.

For the past two months, floodwater has submerged 16 districts of the province, or about 90% of the land, including rice fields and five industrial estates, as well as historical sites and ruins.

"The flood losses total as high as three billion baht," said the governor. However, there are seven key places that have been spared from the floods: 

Wat Phanan Choeng Worawihan, Wat Phut Thai Sawan, Wat Nivet Thammaprawat, the Queen's summer palace, Bang Pa-In Palace and the Bang Sai Royal Folk Arts and Crafts. "They are part of the seven wonders," he added.

While the governor waits for the post-flood recovery budget that was approved by the Cabinet, he outlined the expected time frame for repairing basic infrastructure and helping flood victims, in which each flood-hit household will initially receive 5,000 baht in compensation, as well as making sure the five industrial estates will be able to resume operations next month. 

"I will do everything in my power to ensure that at the very least a couple of factories in each industrial estate will be able to resume operations on December 16, and that the rice fields will be ready for planting by January," he said.

As for the tourist attractions, the province has teamed up with local companies and the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) to encourage people to help restore various sites, mostly old temples, under a massive clean-up campaign called ''We Care for Ayutthaya'', as well as reviving visitor confidence.

The campaign kicked off on November 10 at Wat Yai Chai Mongkhol, where 300 volunteers from Bangkok and local residents armed with brushes, brooms, shovels and hoses helped to remove the dirt and debris remaining in the temple grounds and on different Buddha images.

The TAT has also prepared a list of 500 religion-related places, including Thai temples, 41 churches, 61 masjids and 45 Chinese shrines, for those who wish to participate in the big clean-up activity.

''If any organisation, group or individual would like to make a contribution, whether to help clean or offer financial assistance, they can do so by contacting our office,'' said Somchai Chompoonoi, the executive director of the TAT's Central Region. 

The massive clean-up campaign will be promoted until the end of January. And next year, TAT will coordinate with related agencies to help organise monthly marketing activities to encourage more tourists to visit this ancient town.

''Although the floods have shown no mercy, the Thai people have shown their generous spirit and helped each other. I am impressed to see the level of cooperation among the people to help get Ayutthaya back on track,'' said Qin Yusen, the cultural counsellor of the Chinese Embassy in Thailand, who also participated in a clean-up activity.

Yusen added that the Chinese government will extend a hand and send a troop of performers to Ayutthaya to celebrate the 20th anniversary of Ayutthaya being declared a Unesco World Heritage Site on December 13, as well as the Chinese New Year, which falls on January 23.

''Ayutthaya is ready for visitors,'' said the cultural counsellor, adding, ''I give full moral support that Ayutthaya will soon be back on its feet and normal life will resume again _ and perhaps even better than it was before.''

SAVING AYUTTHAYA

Volunteers and locals flock to the ancient capital to clean temple grounds and scrub monuments

More than a month after it was engulfed by floodwaters, the province of Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya is slowly getting back to normal as the waters recede. 

Most of the provincial seat is now dry and with houses, museums, temples, palace ruins and roads once again visible, people are beginning the long and arduous task of cleaning up.

In the distance, the slightly leaning Chaiyamongkol pagoda, built to honour the victory of King Naresuan the Great's victory over Burma, can clearly be seen. 

The ancient royal monastery of Wat Yai Chaimongkol, located just outside the city island, looks well on the way to recovery, with most of the temple grounds now free of water.

Last Thursday, a large group of volunteers gathered at the temple for Ayutthaya's big cleaning day. Lay people and monks spread out through the temple grounds, washing, wiping and pulling up dead trees. 

Sadly, the roots of all the ornamental orange jasmine trees rotted in the water but the hardier West Indian jasmine trees survived and are in full bloom.

"Ayutthaya was the capital of Siam for more than 400 years and acted as the centre of administration, culture and international relations of the Siamese kingdom. 

Today, Ayutthaya is the centre of cooperation among Thai people to help bring the old capital city back to its former glory and the smiles back to people's faces once again", says Ayutthaya's governor, Wittaya Pewpong,

And certainly, the folk in Ayutthaya are fighting the flood with big smiles. At Wat Ayodhaya in Hantra village, locals still commute to the main road in shallow muddy water

My one-story house was flooded up to the gables. We had to move to high land just behind the pagoda, and now the water has receded to chest level. I should be able to move back in about 10 days", says a local man with a broad smile.

Wat Ayodhaya is home to one of the oldest pagodas in Ayutthaya and its ruins are located just behind the new Ubosot hall. Historians believe this was the site of the old royal palace before it was relocated to Ayutthaya island. 

Two cows are eating grass on the pagoda's higher platform - more than three meters above the ground. "They climbed up by themselves. They've been living up there for more than a month now" says a local woman.

This small temple was holding a Loy Krathong festival later that night to give locals a break from the floods. The festival was also being celebrated at Wat Phanan Choeng, home to Luang Pho Tor, the 19-metre tall stucco Buddha image that dates back to the 14th century.

Wat Phanan Choeng is one of three temples that hasn't been affected by the floodwater, the other two being Wat Putthai Sawan and Wat Niwet Thammaprawat. According to the governor, Bang Pa-in Palace, Siriyalai Royal Residence and Bang Sai Royal Arts and Craft Center have also been spared.

An island at the confluence of three rivers, Ayutthaya is no stranger to flooding. Indeed, the rainy season was long known as the "flood season" or "reudu nam lark" and was never considered harmful in the olden days, as the entire economy was based on rice farming.

But while the physical geography hasn't changed, industrial development has sprung up around the area bringing with it a population influx. 

The governor says he wants a dam built on the Pasak and Chao Phraya rivers to protect the city in the long run. 

His aim is to give people their lives back, to restore the world heritage site back to its former glory and to boost Ayutthaya's chance of being selected as the host of the World Expo in 2020. "I believe we can accomplish it", he says.

Right now though, only a few visitors are cycling around Ayutthaya and the elephant strolling along the Historical Park has no tourists on her back. Viharn Monkholbopit, the building that houses Phra Monkholbopit, is still not open to visitors. 

It's possible to venture into the adjoining Wat Phra Si Sanpetch to visit the three pagodas and the Royal Palace ruins but the ground is still soft and wet and the water stains are visible on the old bricks.

Among all the religious centres of Ayutthaya, Wat Mahathat is regarded the most significant, as it once was a residence of the Supreme Patriarch. 

The temple is not completely dry, but the most photographed sandstone Buddha's head enmeshed in the tree trunks has now emerged from the water and the dark moss that used to cover the face has all but disappeared.

Lovers of Buddhist art cried when they saw photos of the giant reclining Buddha image at Wat Lokayasutharam submerged in the floodwaters. 

Now, the 29-metre-long reclining Buddha is more or less water-free and small fish and shrimps can be seen trying to escape from drying muddy ponds. 

A couple of tourists stop but rather than take photos, they start collecting garbage left by water in the temple yard.

Their simple gesture is a timely reminder that we too should all do our part in rescuing our precious heritage.

IF YOU GO...

Another big cleaning day in Ayutthaya will be organized on December 5 at nine temples, nine churches and nine mosques. For more details, contact Tourism Authority of Thailand, Ayutthaya office at (035) 246076-7

660 pumps installed along Chao Phraya to drain out run-offs

The Royal Irrigation Department has been using as many as 660 pumps, installed along both banks of the Chao Phraya River, to direct run-offs towards the sea.

These pumps can handle 123 million cubic meters of water every day.

"On the western side, there are 336 pumps that have the capacity to handle 80 million cubic meters," the department's director-general Chalit Damrongsak said yesterday.

In Bangkok's eastern zone, there are 324 pumps that have a total capacity to handle 43 million cubic meters of water each day.

Chalit said water drainage depended on many factors, including sea levels.

He added that pumps would also be used to drain floods out of Nakhon Sawan and Ayutthaya.

Thailand Tries to Help Companies, as Floods Spread

Thailand on Thursday offered more help to businesses affected by a national flood crisis as the waters spread deeper into Bangkok and risked cutting off a major highway.

The flooding since late July has killed 533 people and caused billions of dollars in damage, closing hundreds of inundated factories north of the capital.

The water has nearly surrounded Bangkok, flooding a dozen of its outer districts and threatening chaos in the crowded city of more than 9 million people.

The floodwater are trickling onto the main route south from the city, Rama II Road. If the water gets deeper, it will cut off the last dry highway to Thailand's south and likely swamp so-far unflooded areas of southwestern Bangkok.

The industrial closures have had an effect well beyond Thailand, since the factories supply key components for several industries, particularly the automotive and computer sectors.

A Thai resident looks out from a truck as they pass a flooded street in Bangkok, Thailand, Thursday, Nov. 10, 2011. The flooding began in late July and the water has reached parts of Bangkok, where residents are frustrated by government confusion over how much worse the flooding will get.

Thailand's Board of Investment, which grants tax holidays and other privileges to investment projects, already has taken steps to mitigate flood damage, such as giving tax write-offs for damaged raw materials and easing rules on bringing in foreign nationals to help with recovery.

New measures announced Thursday include allowing companies to temporarily outsource all manufacturing in order to maintain customer deliveries and extending by six months import tax exemptions on replacements for damaged machinery.

Especially hard hit by the flooding have been Japanese companies, led by Honda and Toyota, that were forced to close assembly plants in flooded areas. 

Some have complained they were not given timely and accurate information that would have allowed them to prepare for flooding.

On top of Thailand's political instability in recent years, the floods have raised the possibility foreign investment projects may relocate elsewhere in Southeast Asia.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has tried reaching out to Japanese businesses. Japan's ambassador accompanied Yingluck on an inspection this week in Ayutthaya, just north of Bangkok, where several flooded industrial estates have begun cleanups.

Virabongse Ramangkura, a former finance minister heading a reconstruction and development committee established this week, said he would consult in Tokyo with officials from Japan's Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry on how best to aid the stricken businesses.

Province could lose up to B150bn

Prantalay Marketing Co in Samut Sakhon has prepared a depot and cold storage in Ma Klong in neighbouring Samut Songkhram province.

Samut Sakhon province, in red, is directly in the flood path

We've sped up operations to meet year-end orders and so far supplies of shrimp, mainly from the southern and the eastern regions, have not been disrupted," said Anurat Khokasai, the company's marketing and chief operating officer.

"But we are now concerned that increasing rainfall in the south will affect supply, as normally happens late this month."

Prantalay is confident its exports will top its original forecast of 8.4 billion baht, possibly reaching 8.5 billion this year. Domestic sales are projected at 1.2 billion baht. Next year, it anticipates sales growth of 10%, he added.

Inundated industrial estates in Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani are prepared to pump out floodwater, but the water has receded slower than the Irrigation Department forecast, they noted.

At Hi-Tech Industrial Park in Ayutthaya, floodwater is still as high as 1.98 meters, higher than the estate's flood wall.

"We need to wait for it to recede to probably 1.80 meters," said Hi-Tech managing director Thavich Taychanavakul. "Earlier, we estimated the floodwater would establish early this month so we could start pumping the water out by this Thursday."

It will take about 14 days to drain 10 million cubic meters from the estate. Hi-Tech expects to complete the task by Nov 25, he added.