Rangsit U rector threatens to block road

Arthit Ourairat, rector of Rangsit University, on Wednesday threatened to lead flood-hit residents of Muang Ake housing estate, in a protest and close Vibhavdi Rangsit Road and Don Mueang Tollway if no flood relief action is taken in three days, reports said.

Mr Arthit today wrote on his Facebook website that Lak Hok, Muang Ake and Rangsit University had been totaled flooded for a month now, but the government's Flood Relief Operations Command (Froc) had paid it no attention at all.

Muang Ake is located near the border line of Bangkok and Pathum Thani, and therefore the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration should also provide assistance to the flood affected residents.

He called on residents in Muang Ake to come out and block both inbound and outbound lanes of the Vibhavadi Rangt Road and Don Mueng Tollway if there is no response from the BMA and Froc within three days.

It was reported that the rector said in an earlier posting that he had sent an urgent letter to Froc head Pol Gen Pracha Promnok and Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra asking them to help rapidly drain the floodwater out through Khlong Prem Prachakhon.

The BMA has kindly sent five pumps to us. Thanks to the BMA,” said Mr Arthit.

PM ducks cash relief calls

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is lukewarm to calls for special compensation to be paid to people on the outskirts of Bangkok who remain flooded to protect inner city areas.

Yesterday she wouldn't be drawn on a proposal from the Flood Relief Operation Command that the government pay 500-1,000 baht daily to compensate flood victims living within the flood barriers in Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi and Nakhon Pathom provinces as well as some suburban areas of Bangkok.

"All areas are facing the same problem. I sympathies with them and I am trying to offer adequate assistance. As for rehabilitation in protracted flood areas, cabinet ministers have been assigned to help flood victims there and I am sure that the assistance through them will be adequate," Ms Yingluck said.

Asked if the government would raise compensation for each flooded family from 5,000 baht, Ms Yingluck declined to comment directly. 

She said the government had many assistance measures in the pipeline to be implemented after the flooding has disappeared.

She added that the government would have to consider the situation carefully before deciding whether it could raise financial aid to individual flood victims.

At present, the government pays 5,000 baht in immediate compensation to each family and up to 30,000 baht for each house badly damaged by floodwater.

Deputy Prime Minister and Interior Minister Yongyuth Wichaidit said the government had approved 1.25 billion baht for 25 provinces 50 million baht each  to help flood victims including Bangkok and its outskirts .

Relief assistance would come in various forms such as food, garbage collection, and health care services, he said.

Bangkok governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is considering diverting cash from City Hall's budget to pay additional compensation to residents whose homes are close to the big bag flood barrier.

He said they have suffered from deeper floods because of the barrier which was aimed at preventing floodwater from inundating inner Bangkok.

This compensation will be provided in addition to the standard assistance currently being offered by both the government and the BMA.

Big Cleaning Day' kicked off in Bangkok's flood-hit areas

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra on Saturday led workers from the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) and volunteers from all walks of life to clean up the Lat Phrao 5-way intersection and nearby zones after floodwaters receded.

The Big Cleaning Day activity started at Kamphaeng Phet intersection on Phaholyothin Road through to Lat Phrao 5-way intersection and Ratchayothin intersection.

Twenty five trucks containing water and 1,000 cleaning kits were provided for cleaning up areas on Phaholyothin Roads which had previously been affected by flood.

Saturday’s cleaning activity, jointly held by the BMA’s Chatuchak district office, the 1st Army Area, the Royal Thai Police and the private sector, was the first cleaning activity since floodwaters receded.

The governor, who presided over the Big Cleaning Day activity, thanked all related parties and volunteers for joining the event. He also said that city hall will organise cleaning activities in other flood-affected areas, expecting to complete the clean-up before Dec 31 as a New Year gift for Bangkok residents.

Meanwhile, the BMA is scheduled to hold Big Cleaning Day activities this Sunday on Charansanitwong Road, starting from Yanhee Hospital to Bang Phlat intersection.

Thailand Bangkok Plans to Dredge Canals in Western Part of City

The Bangkok governor says canals in the western part of the city must be dredged to increase drainage capacity.

Meanwhile, he has placed eight communities in Bang Kapi District on the flood watch list.

Those eight Bang Kapi communities are Wang Yai, Wang Som, Samakkhi Pattana, Lamsalee, Lamsalee Pattana, Yoo Sabai housing estate, Matcha and Pracha Ruamjai.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said floodwater from the northern part of Bangkok is continuing to flow into the district via the Saen Saeb Canal and smaller nearby canals namely Ban Ma, Lamsalee and Hua Mak Noi.

He advised residents to relocate their belongings and electrical sockets to higher spots and evacuate family members who may need emergency aid such as children, pregnant women, the elderly, and those who are ill.

The governor added floods on the Thonburi side have begun to subside but many parts of the capital are still reeling under heavy flooding, such as Don Muang and Chatuchak districts, as water in the Prem Prachakorn Canal continues to overflow.

He went on to say the water in the upper part of the Lad Phrao Canal in Sai Mai District continues to swell from its embankment, but floods in Soi Senanikhom and Soi Ladprao 56 are receding.

In Bangplad District, the water level has gone down by 10 to 15 centimeters, but several parts are still submerged with high water.

Sukhumbhand expects the floodwater at Bangbamru Railway Station will recede in one or two days.

The governor stated the water on Sirindhorn Road will be drained into Bangkok Noi Canal and water pumps will installed on Charunsanitwong Road to curb floods at the section between Yanhi Hospital and Lotus Superstore.

Regarding west Bangkok, he said King Rama II Road remains passable, but some of its sidestreets are submerged under 5 or 10 centimeters of water.

He added that the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration will coordinate with the Flood Relief Operation Center and have the Army send its personnel to dredge Ratchamontri, Sanamchai, Saemdam, and Khunrathcphanijchai canals, to boost drainage capacity.

Regarding registration for Bangkok residents seeking compensation from the government through its district offices, the governor has instructed officials to skip unnecessary paperwork processes such as submission of photos of flood-ravaged homes and written police complaints.

He said those who are unable to present domicile registries can ask their district offices to use their database to verify the authenticity of the information.

The governor advised all flood-hit residents to submit their petitions at Bangkok district offices as soon as possible so the BMA can forward them for the Interior Ministry’s approval before December 22.

Bangkok flood situation improving, Lat Phrao 5-way junction expected to dry at weekend

BANGKOK, Nov 16 -- The flood situation in Bangkok is gradually improving as the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is confident that if there is no added water inflow from the north of Bangkok, the Lat Phrao five-way intersection would be dry at the weekend, according to Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra.

Mr Sukhumphand told reporters Tuesday after inspecting flooding at Kamphaengphet and Phahonyothin roads, from Chatuchak Park through the Lat Phrao junction that water at the BTS Skytrain Chatuchak station is significantly reduced and many areas gained no more water.

At the Lat Phrao intersection, water about 10cm deep and small vehicles could pass, he said.

The water level on Phahonyothin Road, from Central Plaza Lat Phrao to Soi Suea Yai Uthit, was falling, but Ratchayothin intersection was under 30-50cm water and water quality was deteriorating. BMA workers are using microorganism treatments to improve water quality.

The governor said that overall, the flood is improving and if no more water arrives from the north, he is confident that Lat Phrao’s five-way intersection will be free of water by the weekend.

East of Bangkok, RamaII Road until now has been spared from significant flooding with only 5cm of water over some sections but deep water remains at Soi 69 as residents have gradually evacuated. The flood is creeping toward Central Plaza Rama II.

In related developments, police on Wednesday began towing double-parked cars on expressways after the deadline passed for owners to move them, after being allowed temporary parking privileges to avoid the flood.

Police gave motorists until Tuesday night to move their vehicles, but many are still double-parked.

Nothing 'can threaten Bangkok now'

Asst Prof Dr Sombat Yumeang of Chulalongkorn University's director of Center of GIS Research for Thailand on Tuesday night TNN 24 tv flood analysis sees nothing can threaten central and inner Bangkok now.

Even though Big Bag is allowed to act as a weir letting more floodwater in, the waterfowl rate poses no problem for Bangkok Metropolitan Authority's drainage capacity right now. More and more formerly flooded areas in Bangkok North are beginning to dry.

Dr Sombat said he could not see anything threaten Bangkok's inner and central areas now.

The dry residents should think about helping those who are still in need and suffering for us. All sandbags in inner cities should be donated to various organizations such as TV, Thai Red Cross. Volunteers are also needed to help distribute help to flood victims.

Turning to western front, Dr Sombat noted that BMA and Samut Sakhon cooperated well to make it possible for floodwater to flow unimpeded to various canals system down to the sea.

Floodwater may cross Rama II in some low-lying sections and then would be steered towards Khlong Mahachai's water retention area to be pumped into the sea.

Good news: Tha Chin river level is getting lower, now that high tide has passed.

Bad news: Pumps are breaking down left and right as they are working too hard, making it harder to drain water into Tha Chin river and other canals. 

More pumps should be moved from Bang Pakong river and other areas which have yet to see floodwater in great volume to Tha Chin river and other canals along Rama II Rd to help expedite waterflow.

Phaya Thai flood alert a false alarm: BMA

City Hall cancelled evacuation alerts for residents living along Khlong Bang Sue in Phaya Thai district last night, citing inaccurate information.

Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) spokesman Wasant Meewong confirmed the evacuation alert had been withdrawn at 10pm, about three hours after City Hall issued the announcement.

"The evacuation order was a mistake. We apologize for the error," Mr Wasant said.

The order, signed by Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra, warned residents living along Bang Sue canal in Samsen Nai sub-district of Bangkok's Phaya Thai district to leave their homes as water in the canal had risen rapidly.

The BMA yesterday also declared three additional communities in the Saphan Sung sub-district of Bangkok's Saphan Sung district under flood surveillance after water levels in nearby canals began rising.

The announcement for the sub-district remains in force.

Sukhumbhand: Dry city by New Year

Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra said yesterday that he would see to it that all roads and sois in the capital are dry as a New Year gift for Bangkokians.

However, he yesterday warned residents in Prawet, Saphan Sung and Bangkok Yai districts to move their belongings to higher ground and prepare for possible evacuation.

Yesterday afternoon, Sukhumbhand boarded a 10-wheel truck to hand out relief bags and inspect conditions along Bang Khae district's Buddha Monthon 2 Road, which has been flooded for two weeks. 

The water has receded by 10cm but is now very polluted, so the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)'s Environment Office brought three water tanks containing EM (effective micro-organisms) water to treat the flood water.

Sukhumbhand said he had announced 22 additional communities in Prawet and Saphan Sung districts as flood-watch areas. He said the additional areas in Bangkok Yai were: Tha Phra sub-district's Soi Phetchkasem 15,16,17,17/1, 18 and 18/1.

Wat Arun sub-district's Soi Issaraparp 33 and 42, Ananthabhum, Wat Nakklang, Wat Mai Wichien, the Trok Ta-an communities on Issaraparp Road as well as the Wat Kreuwal, Pok Arun, Wat Moleelokayaram communities on Arun Amarin Road; and Wat Tha Phra sub-district's Soi Ratchadapisek 25 and Soi Charansanidwong 3, 7/1, 9, 9/1, 11, 12, 14.

Saying the flood situation should improve within two weeks if there was no more runoff, he said the "Big Bag" floodwall had helped staunch the flow of water. 

He urged people not to destroy floodwalls or take any action before talking with authorities. "This New Year, I want to give a gift to people: My goal is to have Bangkok dry in all areas, not just main roads but also the sois," he said.

In order to tackle the flooding in western Bangkok, Sukhumbhand said the city's flood-mitigation meeting yesterday proposed diverting the flood water into Rajamontri and Sanam Chai canals and to the Mahachai-Sanam Chai "monkey cheek" water-retention area. 

Water from Bang Bon canal would be pushed through the Ekkachai sluice gate to prevent severe flooding on Rama II Road of the kind that swamped Vibhavadi and Phetchakasem roads, he added. 

The BMA also asked the Metropolitan Electricity Authority to install more water pumps to assist flood-affected people in western Bangkok, he said.

The BMA also had 34 water-tank trucks spray EM liquid to treat polluted flood water resulting from mounting garbage piles. Garbage collection is being done by boat, and is proceeding slowly. 

He said the BMA had managed to collect 900 tons of garbage - or 47 per cent of all garbage in the city. The authority yesterday started to provide 170 trucks to transport people around flooded areas on 21 routes through Bangkok from 6am to 10pm everyday, Sukhumbhand said, adding that it was also preparing a project to bring flood evacuees home.

The BMA reported that 494,893 people in 12 Bangkok districts have been affected by the floods caused by northern runoff. Sai Mai district had the most flood victims at 87,229, followed by Don Mueang (86,561), Phasee Charoen (51,920), Lak Si (51,226), Bang Phlad (51,055), Bang Khae (36,250) and Nong Khaem (35,852).

As of yesterday, Vibhavadi, Phaholyothin and Kasetsart University roads had seen flood water lowered by 5cm-20cm, while Borommaratchachonnani Road (from Central Pinklao mall to Sirindhorn Elevated Way) and Somdet Phrapinklao Road were under 30cm of water. 

Arun Amarin Road from Arun Amarin Intersection to Siriraj Hospital and to the Rama VIII Bridge were under some 50cm of water. 

However, Prawet district reported a high water level in Prawet Burirom canal and 30cm-deep water in some communities on On Nut and Pattanakan roads, such as Muangthong Garden Ville in Soi Pattanakarn 65.

In related news, Airports of Thailand chairman ACM Sumet Phomanee yesterday said officials were speedily repairing key parts of Don Mueang Airport targeted for early re-opening. 

It was expected that, after the "Big Bag" floodwall was completed to protect the airport's eastern runways on Tuesday, and the floodwater had subsided, it would take 60 days to repair the airport in full. 

He expressed 100-per-cent confidence that Suvarnabhumi Airport would be safe from flooding.

Meanwhile, Siriraj Hospital yesterday urged its medical staff to report to their supervisors by Wednesday on whether they would be able to continue working, in order to plan services to support incoming patients.

More areas in city's east on alert

Bueng Kum, Bang Bon districts to be added to list of 30 disaster zones

More areas in the east of Bangkok are being monitored for flash floods, especially those located in the Saphan Sung district, Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said yesterday.

Bueng Kum and Bang Bon districts will soon be added to the list of 30 disaster zones in the capital.

The Bangkok Metropolitan Authority (BMA) said yesterday that the Maha Sawas Canal in the west of Bangkok was brimming over, which kept floods at a high level in many areas to its south. It was the same with Lat Phrao Canal in central Bangkok and Prem Prachakorn Canal in the north.

Meanwhile, frustrated residents tore down 5 meters of the bigbag barrier near Don Muang police station, causing flood water to leak into Prem Prachakorn Canal.

The level of water along the Saen Saeb Canal, including Lat Phrao Soi 130, 136 and 138, is up to 20 centimetres high, while the Sena Niwet housing estate and bylanes in Soi Chok Chai IV have at least kneehigh floods.

The volume of water heading south toward Bangchan Industrial Estate has risen, but factory owners inside the compound are doing their best to fight it off. However, their efforts are reportedly facing a setback due to budgetary constraints resulting in the lack of petrol to power up the pumps.

The Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) has been slow in providing cash to power up the water pumps, though the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand has agreed to fund the operations initially.

Thanes Weerasiri, chief of the Engineering Institute of Thailand, who led the flood prevention operation at the estate, said the flood level had dropped by 9cm after 22 boats were used to propel water into the Saen Saeb Canal.

In addition, the King Mongkut Institute of Technology in Lat Krabang is also fighting off floods, with rector Khomsan Maleesee saying he was confident the campus would be safe thanks to the 1.5metrehigh barrier around it.

The level of flood water has risen in some sections of Rama II Road due to runoffs from the sewage, though it was at a low level and traffic could still go through the road, which links the rest of the country with the South.

In Bangkok, inundation has forced the closure of the Seri Thai Road from Min Buri to the Bangchan estate; Krungthon Bridge to Bang Phlat intersection; and Charan Sanitwong from Rama VII Bridge to Yanhi hospital.

BMA: Water receding, gradually

Floodwater has receded by one to four centimetres in several eastern and western districts of the capital city, Bangkok Metropolitan Administration spokesman Wasant Meewong said on Wednesday.

The districts where water had dropped by 1-4cm were Sai Mai, Bang Sue, Nong Chok, Lat Krabang, Khannayao, Lat Phrao, and Thawi Watthana.

In Bang Phlat district alone, the water level dropped another 10cm to about 40cm high.

However, the water levels in Min Buri and Khlong Sam Wa districts east of Bangkok went up 1cm.

The floodwater on Phahon Yothin and Vibhavadi Rangsit roads did not spread further to elsewhere.

The water levels in Khlong Lat Phrao, Khlong Bang Bua and Khlong Prem Prachakorn which took water from Khlong Hok Wa were still high but stabilised.

More water pumps have been installed at Khlong Samsen, Bang Sue, Bang Khen Mai, Phraya Ratchamontri and Sanamchai stations and are all running in full capacity.

Soldiers have helped to clear garbage and weeds from in front of water pumpting stations and district offices have been allowed to seek an additional budget to hire more workers to clear garbage and other objects obstructing water flows, the BMA spokesman said.

BMA to get 71 water pumps

The government's Flood Relief Operations Centre will provide a total of 71 pumps for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration to use to drain water out of the capital city, Froc director Pracha Promnok said Monday.

Pol Gen Pracha, the justice minister, said that of the 71 water pumps, 48 were bought with Froc's budget from China, 17 borrowed from the Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning, and six borrowed from the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry.

The BMA originally asked Froc for 60 pumps.

Pol Gen Pracha Promnok

All the water pumps were expected to be in place in 15 days, as some of those from China had not yet arrived, he said.

The minister said the people could rest assured that both agencies were working as one to prevent more water coming into the capital and were draining existing water out of the capital city.

Froc spokesman Thongthong Chandrangsu said the water pumps from China were expected to arrive in Bangkok tonight.

BMA city clerk Charoenrat Chutikan thanked Froc for its help.

With no fresh runoff arriving from the North, the water pumps would greatly relieve the people's suffering and reduce that damage to inner Bangkok.

Mr Charoenrat said the BMA and the Interior Ministry's public works and town and country planning departments had laid agreed where to install the water pumps, which were expected to be in place in a few days.

Most would be placed at various pumping stations at Khlong Phra Khanong, Khlong Ratchamontri, Khlong Bangkok Yai, Khlong Dao Khanong, Khlong Bon, Khlong Bang Khen Mai, Khlong Bang Khen Kao, Khlong Thewet, Khlong Bang Sue, and Khlong Bang Na which are scattered over inner and outer Bangkok, as well as the Thon Buri side of the Chao Phraya river.

Mr Charoenrat said it could not yet be assessed how many days it would take to completely drain the floodwater from Bangkok, because it was not known how much water would still seep into the protected area of inner Bangkok from the flooded areas to the north.

BMA deputy city clerk Jumpol Samphaothong said the water pumps would be of much help and most of them would be used to drain water out into the Chao Phraya river.

Flood centre spokesman Palangkoon Klahan said Froc now would launch an operation to "hold back" water flowing into Bangkok by laying a wall of "big bags" along the eastern flood barrier and speed up draining water out through areas east and west of Bangkok.

Gen Palangkoon said the big bags had proven effective in holding back water flowing to Bangkok and cushioning the impact of the flood torrent.

The big bags were proving better than the defences of Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi provinces, which were hard-hit, he said.

The spokesman said the flood situation in Bangkok was no longer worrying. The BMA, meanwhile, was required to speed up dredging shallow canals and removing water hyacinth and other weeds which obstruct the flow of water.

THREATENS TO DITCH FLOOD PLAN EFFORTS IF COOPERATION NOT FORTHCOMING

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has given the government an ultimatum to start cooperating or it will ditch the existing plans it has to tackle the city's floods.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said yesterday the BMA would come up with a new flood management plan if the Flood Relief Operations Command (Froc) does not spell out by tomorrow how it will cooperate in tackling the floods.

The BMA asked the Froc to provide water pumps and speed up flood drainage operations a week ago, but it had not received any response, the governor said.

City Hall also asked Froc to instruct the Royal Irrigation Department to open its 20 sluice gates in Nong Chok district to speed up water drainage to Bang Pakong River in Chachoengsao province, but only nine of 20 sluice gates had been opened.

"If the BMA doesn't get tangible support from the Froc within 48 hours, we will review our flood management plan," MR Sukhumbhand said. He did not elaborate.

Froc yesterday ordered additional pumps from Korea and Japan, and appealed to the private sector to donate pumps.

The Irrigation Department, on behalf of the government, denied it was refusing to cooperate. It said the BMA asked the wrong agency for the loan of pumps.

The growing dispute between the Froc and BMA came as the flood crisis worsened in several parts of Bangkok.

The governor said overflow from Vibhavadi Rangsit Road and Lat Phrao intersection was likely to reach Din Daeng, Saphan Kwai, and the Victory Monument within days since Bang Sue canal, which is an important water drainage route in the area, was swollen and could not take more water.

City Hall declared some parts of Din Daeng district as special surveillance areas. They are Rim Khlong Bang Sue community, Yu Charoen Housing Estate, Soi Inthamara 41 and Yu Charoen Housing Estate Phase 3.

Residents in those areas should move their belongings to higher ground and prepare for evacuation.

On Vibhavadi Rangsit Road, water on the road's inbound lanes in front of St John University was about 30cm.

The government was confident, however, that flooding in the northern part of the city would ease following the completion of the first six kilometres of the big-bag flood barrier on Saturday night.

Transport Minister ACM Sukumpol Suwanatat said Froc has completed the big bag barrier, made of thousands of giant sand bags, to the north of Bangkok. The barrier runs from Lak Hok, Chulalongkorn sluice gate, the area above Don Mueang airport, to Khlong Sam Wa. Each bag weighs 2.5 tonnes.

The barrier was intended to stop flooding from the North that has been moving into central Bangkok within seven days.

For Thon Buri, in the western part of Bangkok, the BMA has issued an evacuation alert for residents in Soi Charan Sanitwong 13 and Tha Phra subdistrict in Bangkok Yai district and four subdistricts in Phasi Charoen district.

The four subdistricts are Khlong Khwang, Bang Duan, Bang Waek and Bang Chak.

MR Sukhumbhand added the BMA has been considering declaring two more subdistricts_Khuha Sawan and Bang Wa _ in Phasi Charoen district as evacuation areas.

City Hall also requires the Froc's assistance in instructing the Royal Irrigation Department to help drain floodwater in Thon Buri into the Sanam Chai-Mahachai canal and the Tha Chin River as soon as possible, said the Bangkok governor.

Water levels between Bang Kae and the Tha Phra intersections are about 85cm on average.