Thailand warns of Bangkok flood threat

Published: 7/10/2011 at 11:32 PM
Online news:

Thailand's prime minister warned Friday that Bangkok was under threat from the country's worst floods in decades as the authorities stepped up efforts to protect the capital and key industrial areas.

A Thai employee of a riverside restaurant watches as water from the Chao Phraya river floods low-lying areas of downtown Bangkok on October 4. Thailand's prime minister has warned that Bangkok is under threat from the country's worst floods in decades as the authorities step up efforts to protect the capital and key industrial areas.

"The flooding situation is now considered a serious crisis," Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said in a nationally televised address, noting that 252 people have died across the country due to more than two months of heavy rains.

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: Writer: AFP News agency; Position: Agence France-Presse

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johninbkk
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Discussion 7 : 19/10/2011 at 12:49 AM7
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banmebkk D6 - The boats were used for river bed dredging. It effectively makes the river deeper so that water can flow faster. The faster the water flows out to sea, the less water remaining that could build up and flood the city.
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banmebkk
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Discussion 6 : 12/10/2011 at 12:08 PM6
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I think its safe to say TRT, DEM both did little to improve the flood crisis. Especially after the epic 95' flooding where downtown bangkok was under 0.5 to 1 meter of water. TRT hardly did anything to prevent in their two terms. I know improvements has been made over the past 10 years, but they never prepare for a return of an epic flood. Shame on the DEMs for doing so little after last years crisis. I know they were caught up with the protest, but still not enough is done. As for the PTP, they have stupid ideas - 1000 boats to increase flow of water. YS should wade into the water instead of staying on boats and having people build planks for her to walk on, shame on her for trying to look pretty in times of crisis.
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bkkboy
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Discussion 5 : 11/10/2011 at 11:42 AM5
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@bkk-farang There's http://www.thaiflood.com/ although it's only in Thai, it's the most up to date and comprehensive
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johninbkk
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Discussion 4 : 11/10/2011 at 01:36 AM4
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To posters D1, D2, and D3 - The majority of the crises is currently in the northern provinces. Bangkok, being at the mouth of the river, will always be the last city to get hit by the flooding. It's also the city that authors of this paper care the most about, and will report the most about. As such, you will mostly only hear about preparations and concerns for just Bangkok. That said, I agree that the central government has historically ignored non-Bangkok provinces, but I don't see evidence PTP has.
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txapi
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Discussion 3 : 10/10/2011 at 07:12 PM3
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I agree with you pointoffew. I thought it showed what little she thought of the rest of the country by that comment. I guess it only became an issue when their expensive farang style homes became threatened.
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bkk-farang
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Discussion 2 : 08/10/2011 at 08:28 AM2
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Does anybody know if there is a map or list somewhere on the internet which shows which areas of Bangkok will be affected?
I agree with pointoffew #1: It seems like some politicians only start to care if their own homes in Bangkok are at risk.
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pointoffew
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Discussion 1 : 08/10/2011 at 12:35 AM1
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or many days, the authorities denied Bangkok was under threat. Now AFP reports that the PM acknowledges that the capital is indeed under threat. And what is worse, because it is Bangkok, "the flooding situation is now considered a serious crisis".

Do we need more proof for the arrogance of those who rip off the nation? Half the country is under water, mai pen rai. But when Bangkok is under threat, it's a "serious crisis".

Yingluck, you should have known better.
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Thailand warns of Bangkok flood threat | Bangkok Post: breakingnews