Weather threatens Bangkok’s lifestyle

BANGKOK, 2 April 2013: Thai weather experts warn climate changes will play havoc over the next 30 years to the otherwise comfortable lifestyle of the Thai capital.

They warn that unstable weather conditions such as flooding and unusually heavy rainstorms, strong winds and unbearable high temperatures. This week temperatures in the capital rose to nearly 40 degrees centigrade.

Today, weather is a top concern for tourists planning trips as global warming impacts on seasons that in the past were predictable and stable.

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Ayutthaya will beat flood threat

AYUTTHAYA, 1 February 2013: Ayutthaya province will boost efforts to build awareness among residents and all stakeholder groups as part of its bid to host the mega  World Expo in 2020.

Speaking at a press conference in Ayutthaya, Wednesday, the province’s governor, Wittaya Phewpong said: “We have made every effort to involve civil society and community groups in the province to build support and encourage their participation in the expo bid process.”

“The event will benefit the entire country not just Ayutthaya. Specifically, hotels in Pattaya and Bangkok will be able to offer accommodation for delegates, exhibitors and visitors.”

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Japan pays for Thai flood gates

AYUTTHAYA, 22 January 2013: Thailand’s Royal Irrigation Department and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) will jointly develop a flood prevention system for industrial estates in the central province of Ayutthaya.

Royal Irrigation Department general director, Lertviroj Kowattana, signed an agreement, late last week, for the construction of two flood gates in Ayutthaya.

JICA was recently assigned by the Japanese government to donate Bt1 billion to Thailand to build the two sluice gates at Kramang Canal and Hantra Canal Sluice Gates. They need to be completed by 2015.

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Heritage sites face flood threat

SUKHOTHAI, 18 January 2013: Once an ancient kingdom of Siam the historical destination, Sukhothai, faces the serious threat of annual flooding that could ultimately destroy a chain of heritage sites that are close to the province’s rivers .

This is the message provincial officials need to present to the mobile Thai Cabinet meeting due to open today just 100 km north of the historic town. The province will propose an allocation of Bt110 million in the next budget when the Cabinet meets 18 to 20 January.

Sukhothai governor, Sumitra Srisombat, said the Bt110-million budget plan has been drafted and will be proposed to the Cabinet for approval during its meeting that will be held in nearby Uttaradit.

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Hanoi cleans its drains

HO CHI MINH CITY, 1 November 2012: The Vietnamese capital’s Water Drainage Department says Ho Chi Minh City should complete all flood prevention projects by 2015.

The department head, Do Tan Long, said there are 31 high risk flood spots in the city and solutions will be in place for at least 21 by 2013 and the remaining spots will be rectified by 2015.

In 2001, the government approved a project to upgrade 6,500 km of sewers in the city in a bid to reduce chronic flooding in the capital.

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Weather this week

BANGKOK, 29 October 2012: Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation says the flood situation is clearing up Thailand’s central plain provinces, but there are still some districts that are recovering from recent floods particularly Sukhothai.

The department general director, Chartchai Promlert, said the situation is better now with only five provinces reporting some flooding outside of the main towns. The five provinces are: Chachoengsao; Phitsanulok; Ayutthaya; Suphan Buri; and Nakhon Pratom.

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Massive budget needed for roads

BANGKOK, 22 October 2012: Thailand’s Ministry of Transport’s Highways Department plans to extend two elevated roads from Bangkok to maintain traffic connections with the North, the Northeast and the South even if the capital suburbs are flooded.

Last year, flood damaged 13,961 roads across the country particularly to the North. The main trouble spot was highway 32, just north of Ayutthaya in Sing Buri, Angthong and Chainat.

Hghway 32 begins in the Bang Pa-in in Ayutthaya at the junction of Phahonyothin Road (national highway 1) and the outer Bangkok ring road (Motorway 9) through Ayutthaya, Angthong, Singburi, and Chainat almost as far as Nakhon Sawan where it reconnects with highway 1, known as Phahonyothin Road.

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Experts study flood solutions

SUKHOTHAI, 18 October 2012: Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute says the UNESCO World Heritage Park in Sukhothai urgently needs a water management plan to protect it against future floods.

The institute director, Royol Jitdon, said the HAII is working on a 3D model of Sukhothai for urban-flood management in collaboration with UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education.

“Sukhothai has old-town characteristics therefore it is difficult to handle flood water efficiently.”

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BMA warns of more rain

BANGKOK, 17 October 2012: Bangkok Metropolitan Administration warned organisations in the capital to prepare for more rain this week although the overall situation is back to normal in most parts of the capital.

BMA spokesperson, Wasan Meewong, said the Bangkok governor  ordered authorities to closely monitor the water situation over the next few days.

“Although there has been a decline in rainfall, the Thai Metrological Department reports that a moderate high pressure ridge  from China extends to cover the North and the Northeast of Thailand and this will bring more rain.”

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Bangkok’s sinking feeling

BANGKOK, 15 October 2012: Bangkok Metropolitan Administration’s Drainage and Sewerage Department says the capital continues sink creating bowl-shaped terrain that makes it almost impossible to clear flood water after major storms.

“A road survey by the BMA’s Public Works Department found that on average roads in Bangkok were only 1 metre higher than sea level.” department engineer, Sansern Ruangrit explained.

“When it rains heavily – more than 60 millimetres in an hour – or when the level of the Chao Phraya River was higher than 2 metres, Bangkok faces floods.”

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