BKK floods...
 

I haven't been to Thailand for a few months and the floods there are starting to get alot of coverage in the International press.
How bad is it? Is there flooding in BKK now? Is it still raining more than normal?

Flooding
 

A little rain each day but nothing that has stopped me getting about. I haven't seen one flooded road in Central Bangkok now for some time. Normally a good 2 hour downpour and my soi is flooded and takes a couple of hours to drain away. It has now been several months since that last happened. Always flooding around Phyathai BTS but again I cannot remember the last time that happened. Silom, Pratunam, Sukhumvit all okay this week when I have been in those areas. I understand from a friend in Pattaya that no problems there since that last downpour they had.

Thanks pitrevie,
I have been in BKK when the drains back up and it is like a sci-fi horror pic the things that flows down the street!

Good to hear things aren't as dramatic as news reports.

As Pitrevie says, no problems in Silom/Suriwong....yet. However, latest reports are that Sat/Sun/Mon will be the most vulnerable days - hoping for the best, but TIT.

-- A certain amount depends on wch. 'paper. or web-site one reads, or wch. TV./Radio-program one sees or hears.
- Check if you can down-load & view the flg. article:
> Bangkok Post : Smith faults water management <
- In my walkings around Rama IV., Si Lom & S'wong. rds. I see that a good many malls & shops have stock-piled sand-bags - 'Be prepared.' as one says.

-- E&OE.. -- :)

Go to Thaivisa.com/forum, then the Thailand news thread for a lot more / broader / comprehensive information on the floods.

Worst floods in a half century ...
 

> Photos: Thailand Flooding | Plog — World, National Photos, Photography and Reportage — The Denver Post <

actually the last two days did not see tremendous downpour as previous days.

May I ask what is the current flood situation in BKK. I have a trip coming up next week. Some of my thai friends say its ok to go and some say its not safe. Maybe an opinion from the BKK residents might be of help. I will be staying in Silom/Sathorn area. Is this area flood prone?
Many thanks.

how much it rains in Bangkok is no longer the issue. There is a king tide coming in two weeks and that will meet the massive amount of water surging from the north and central plains.

It is highly unlikely that Silom/Suriwong will see any significent flooding(in my opinion) as this is the prime business area that is vital to keep clear. Whether there will be a little surface water around is anyones guess, as there are conflicting reports from all parties. My own opinion is that drinking water and some foodstuffs (in 7/11's etc) will be hard to find, as the factories making the plastic bottles are under water. The worst flooding is alledgedly tonight (Fri).

There is a lot more to come before all the water from the North has gone into the sea, there are predictions this morning that it will take a further 4 to 6 weeks and the comment from gregvc above about king tides also connects. Take a look at thaivisa.com/forum and go the the Thailand News threads. Earlier there were lots of predictions that most of Bkk would be safe, this has proven very very wrong and I suggest it's a little dangerous to assume that Silom etc., will be OK. Silom is only about 2.0 - 2.5 kilometres from San Saeb canal which connects directly to the Chao Phya river which is bursting it's banks. My guess is that Silom, Suriwongse and that area are in fact a little lower than San Saeb canal. Whether the 'workers' in this area can get to work or have gone home to help families in the provinces is also an open question. I have a work colleague who owns a condo about 4 kilometres from swampy airport, late yesterday afternoon (Fri 21 Oct) the police ordered everybody in her condo and all the people within about 30 kilometre radius to evacuate their homes etc. Swampy sits within a protecting wall, the water is already at the standard wall height and is now only contained by sandbags / temporary earth banks, etc. Many supermarkets / minimarts are progressively being cleaned out, all over the parts of Thailand incl Bkk affected by the floods. There is obviously no resupply whatever and it will take days to start resupply once factories etc., are able to resume production and gain supplies of raw materials.

-- On today's BBC.R3. news' b'cast.,(2213.oo.hrs., BKK.-time.), we heard that the Thai gov't. reckons that it might take upto six weeks for all of the flood-waters to have receded from BKK.: :(
- Apparently there are some 16 different & competing gov't.-agencies all with their fingers in the pie, anxious for MORE funds and to make themselves heard to justify their existence; sounds rather like the olde & Army-saying: 'Order, Counter-order & Disorder.', doesn't it?

-- Gentle Reader, The flg. web-site might be of some & possible interest to you -
> http://www.bangkokpost.com/news/loca...ge-yet-to-come <
-- :)

All the government agencies don't have a thing on mother nature.

The floods will go away when the water has finished draining into the Gulf, and that's pretty much that.

Mother nature is not ...
 

-- PLUS, strange but true, Mother Nature cannot be bribed! -- :)

Yahoo! News-bar's latest up-date ...
 

-- Acording to the Yahoo! news'-bar the latest news - as read by me at approx. 2513.30.hrs.GMT. - are:
1.- Flood-waters have breached DON MUEANG AIRPORT'S defences; all flights both IN & OUT have been CANCELLED. DM's. snr. exec. will review & will re-assess the sit'n. on or about 01 nov.;
2.- The Thai Gov't. has declared that the period 27-31 oct. will be a Public Holiday: 'Sanook!'.
-- :(

AND that DM is 'Flood Control Headquarters'... OMG :eek:

Suvarnabhumi Airport
 

Although DM airport is closed due to flooding, Suvarnabhumi Airport has much more modern flood prevention designs and there is currently no plans to close or have opereations impacted.

Lets hope the people that actually built the drainage stystem are not the ones who built the revolving doors...

Bangkok to the Edge of the Flooding - 25 October 2011

Bangkok to the Edge of the Flooding - 25 October 2011 - YouTube

Many thanks e316346. An excellent post.

And they're all smiling!!

My simple question.Would you recommend delaying an early November trip ? I am in Bkk often and would not have withdrawal symptoms.Apart from contributing to tourist economy I feel I would be surplus.

The news footage and lack of options for many people are very concerning.Thailand's toughness is called upon too often.Wishing a quick turnaround of events for all.

Bangkok floods
 

Dear dorothy dix,

Not looking good for quite a while yet, the civil engineers in my Bangkok based company support the suggestion that it will be at least 4 weeks or more of major flooding covering most of Bangkok. Given what's been happening over the last few days I have doubts that any part of Bangkok will be given any special treatment. Many sections of the the Chao Phya river are above the flood walls and the river is not that far away from the Silom / Suriwongse areas.

Can I encourage you to go to:

Thailand News - Thailand Forum

If your not a member, it's a very easy sign up and free. Lots of comprehensive details on the floods.

Good luck.

some of my thai friends has moved to pattaya for the time being.

Thanks for reply.Have checked with some Thai travellers who advise postponement.Expedia site warn of transit difficulties and even though I view them as sometimes too conservative foreign affairs discourage non-essential travel now.

Supermarket shortages,water supply sources uncertain and the ever-present possibility of disease have swayed me against going now.This is worst case of course but scenarios that must be taken into account.

Will be there soon when I guess we will be discussing inflation.

-- True; possibly non-essential travel would be best avoided right now.
-- Most s'mkts. have empty shelves for some, but not all, items: mostly potable water & tinned goods gone; some breads etc., fresh fruits & veggies. available still - PLUS plenty of wines & spirits - ha! ;)
- As of today,(28oct.), TOPS - Silom Complex Shopping Plaza, had re-stocked many of its shelves; but many gaps - like young person losing his/her milk-teeth before the growth of his adult's dentition - all too obvious.

-- Y'day.,(27 oct.), ret'd.by #84. 'bus. from beyond BANG KHAE; many overpasses etc. have double-parking wch. slowed-down day-to-day tfc.; but still plenty of rd.-tfc.; usual & 60mins'. journey took MORE than 90mins. in either dir'n.;
- Charoen Krung soi 58., (approx. mid-way between BTS. S.Taksin,[S6.], & SHREWSBURY INT'L. SCH.), sand-bagged wall breached by flood-waters, water across CK. main rd. maybe an inch or so,(2.54.cms.), deep in that local area.
- In passing-over CHAO PHRAYA river, by BTS. bridge, observed HIGH water level, river ebbing quite strongly - saw no obvious flooding, although waters appeared to be v. close to river-walls & to temp'y. barriers.
- Sofar CENT'L. & BUSINESS DISTRICT,(Si Lom, Rama IV. & Suriwong areas.), dry under-foot. My app'ts. Dragon-lady, (we're between Si Lom & S'wong. rds. & nr. to the PHAT PONGS.), is confident of no local flooding of any seriousness! :rolleyes:
- However, while she might be confident about the bldg's. OUTER defences holding-out against EXTERNAl flood-waters, today forenoon she revealed some disquiet about the drains & sewers backing-up! As a gd.-fl. resident - and one with plenty of experience of such things happening in some of the Saudi-run Co's & KSA. hospitals - I'll allow that it's a matter of concern to me, too; memories of wading-around in hospitals' sh*t pits and trying to free jammed & submerged pumps was no fun! :-(
- The app't.-blk. has purchased a small & gas.-driven pump on a 'Just in case.' basis.
-- We'll see. :)

They must be really desperate.

My friends and colleagues have moved to various places temporarily - Pattaya, Cha-am and Chiang Mai.

-- My Enthusiastic & Am. Friend claims to have seen some unconfirmed report that now it might take up to seven hours to drive from BKK. to PATTAYA - such is the exodus, flight of the lemmings, rush of the Gadarene Swine,(Matt VIII:32.), or call it what you will.

-- For an aerial view -
> http://yfrog.com/z/mezmdsej <, (courtesy of > http://www.baht-stop.com <),.

-- For an Aussie. 'paper's. view-point, (I must allow that until after I'd read the below-mentioned article I hadn't realized just how important TH. appears to be in the manufacturing processes of somany & world-wide industries, [blush!].), -
> http://www.theage.com.au/national/th...028-1mo4a.html <

Hello to y'all. Arr at Swampy-dead quiet a few days ago, stayed 1 day in BK and left-flood anxiety. Tossed with going Pty but all those reports of full places made me change mind and go further east. Buses to PTY were only half full and a plenty at Ekamai. Road-via free=no toll elevated BangNa went fast and smooth-here also many parked cars (how would they get off there after parking?). This 7-hr warning has passed and was just for 1 day. However-if you intend to go PTY very soon, rec. to have a solid HTL-res for the time being!
Another aspect was the emptyness of gay places in BKK; the massageshop which mostly has 20-30 boys lining up, now had just 4-and had to wake them from their sleep.

BKK today 34 C , sunny and dry. High tide passed, central BKK and airport dry - no extension of 5 day public holiday - crisis over! (unless you live in the already flooded country areas where drainage expected to be another 4 weeks.)

The Pattaya hotel situation will be easy after today as "refugees" return to BKK tonight.

Jomtien beach deck chairs quite full over the weekend .

- and Qantas flying again. Come on down !!

Bkk flood situation
 

"BKK today 34 C , sunny and dry. High tide passed, central BKK and airport dry - no extension of 5 day public holiday - crisis over! (unless you live in the already flooded country areas where drainage expected to be another 4 weeks.)

The Pattaya hotel situation will be easy after today as "refugees" return to BKK tonight. ..."

Suggest you look a little more broadly than this, water is still rising in many parts of Bkk. My office just down from Don Muang Airport has 1.5 metres of water, yesterday had 20cm of water.

One of my staff lives alongside San Saeb khlong close to Mah Boon Kong shopping complex. So far the water hasn't gone into homes but late yesterday houses close to the khlong were ordered to evacuate because within 24 hours the govt. will be using that khlong to carry a lot more water in the master plan to get water to the sea.

You seem to be assuming 'it's just a long week-end, everybody will go home when the long week-end finishes'. Not true, many Bkk folks have a long wait before they can return home. One of my colleagues has a house in a major housing development going towards Korat, the family fled more than two weeks ago, whole village still has 2 metres of water today. When the water goes, it's estimated will take at least two weeks for the house to be made habitable, and for gov't agencies to reconnect electricity etc., get local roads usable, etc.

If you want a broader picture, go to thaivisa.com/forum, then click on Thailand news, lots of details. Free to join the forum and easy to sign up.

For most cruisers contemplating whether or not to visit, the water level around Don Muang is not a concern. They want to know that Silom, Suriwong, Sukumvit are dry, Babylon is open and Siam Paragon is open. They want to know its safe to fly into Suvarnambumi and the drive to Pattaya is clear. They want to know there's no problems in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phuket, Koh Samui. etc.

I know it's still hell for many many thais, but visitors confining their stay to the central area of BKK or to Pattaya should not be put off visiting this great city / country.

A couple of s'mkts. ...
 

-- Today, (31 oct. & Hallow E'en.), my YM. & I looked-in at a couple of s'mkts. -
1.- 7/11. at Tee-jun. Si lom & Convent rds.-
1.1.- No supplies of drinking/potable water on shelves;
1.2.- All shelves of 'Instant.'-type - put plastic bag into boiling water - foods empty; but 'fridges. of frozen products stll fairly full;
2.- TOPS - Silom Complex Shopping Plaza. -
2.1.- Fairly well stocked-up: plenty of fresh fruits & veggies., same for fish & meat counters;
2.2.- Apart from plentiful & F. 'Evian.' water no other brands of drinking water seen;

3.- Today forenoon, & ret'g. along S'wong. rd. to my app't., I saw some opportunists selling 330ml. bottles of potable water for 10.Bh. each..;
3.1.- Most of the usual, lunch.-time & food-vendors, opp. to LE MERIDIEN HTL., were quite busy.

4.- Back-tracking to sat. & to sun. - 4.1.- Most, but not all, of the usual poor but honest b'fast. vendors along Si Lom rd., by BKK. XTN.HOSP'L., were OUT selling their cooked items;
4.2.- In the evenings most of the usual street-side stalls seemed to be OUT. Many food-vendors were busy with most tables fully occupied with Happy Eaters..

-- :)

-- Sat., 29 oct., a'noon. my YM. & I went-to SIAM PARAGON, wch. wasn't all that busy - in a gen'l. sense, although its Food Ct. & Gourmet-Mkt. were quite busy;
- I was interested to note that some of the Maint'ce. staff were ocupied still in building anti-flood walls: four rows of blackish & cinder-blocks - say approx. 2'.08". high. Made me wonder if it was 'Locking the stable-door ... . ' or another & possible inundation is expected in that area?
- According to a recent poster in > http://www.baht-stop.com < the next very HIGH tide will be on or about thu. 10 nov..
-- :-)

Dear biggles, whatever makes you happy.

Mii kwaam suk krub :)

Exactly. It is hard to know from afar how it is. Xfun and Sexytiles posts are very useful. Thanx and keep 'im cummin'. (PI)

Drinking/potable water supplies ...
 

-- Today, (07 nov.), my YM. & I went to BIG C. - R'damri.;
- Up in the 4fl. Food Ct. I saw plenty of 330.ml. bottles of drinking water for sale at 07.Bh. each;
- Later, in LUMPHINI PK. I saw plenty of drinking water avail. at each of the two Refreshments' Outlets that we passed-by.

-- During the day also saw both 'Farm-house.' & 'President.' Bakeries' vans delivering to 7/11. & to FAMILY MART stores - well, if there's a shortage of bread 'Let them eat cake.'!
-- Outside CP.TOWER - Si Lom rd. - the CP. Gp. had plenty of trays of fresh eggs for sale.
-- Later on, passing by the 7/11. opp. to the TAWANA BKK. HTL., S'wong. rd., I saw a plain PU. delivering MORE bottled water to that outlet.
-- :)

BKK. could be dry in ...
 

-- According to a message from the Irrig'n. Dept.: 'BKK. could be dry in eleven days. ... .';
- Source: > The Baht Stop < quoting > Bangkok Post : Capital could be dry in 11 days <

-- NB.: For The Baht Stop no need either to register or to log-IN for reading only.
-- :)

Drinking/potable water ...
 

-- Today, 11 nov., Remembrance Day, my YM. & I went-IN to the 7/11. SUPER STORE at the tee junc. Si Lom:Convent rds.;
- Checking the freezers' shelves I saw quite a few bottles & containers of 'Namthip.', of 'Singha.' & of someother water-co.; plenty of Colas, Sprite etc. etc. available;
-- Standing outside was a queue of maybe upto one hundred & mainly young people. A couple of enquiries - I didn't believe the first reply - revealed that they were awaiting clothing to replace that ruined by the dirty flood-waters - I didn't know that 7/11. stores sold clothing, but possibly that s'store. was acting as a distrib'n. point for charitably donated clothes?

-- In SILOM COMPLEX SHOPPING PLAZA's TOP'S S'mkt. I saw only Evian & Vittel bottled water.

-- Later on, Si Lom rd., I passed-by a shop whose windows are covered by olde 'papers. - nigh on next door to the now hoarded-up corner shop - tee junc. Si lom:soi 4. - that used to sell cooked ducks - outside of wch. was a pick-up truck laden with bottled water: a 'Cooly Fresh.' 12-pack & plastic-wrapped product; I estimated that there were some 4,300. bottles aboard, all of wch. were being passed along an human chain and into the shop.

-- A recent posting in > http://www.baht-stop.com < and entitled: 'A picture is worth a thousand words.' shews a graphic from the BKK. Post. 'paper. of the depth of water in various & BKK. loc'ns. using an human body as a scale: ie.: in such-and-such a place the water is shewn as knee-deep, whereas in another area it's chest-deep. At the RIGHT hand end is a lady in white, laden with shopping and standing above the water-level, above 'R'prasong. I'sect.' - this might be to reassure farang shoppers? Only surprised that the lady in white didn't have the features of a certain & well-known politicienne!

-- :)