Water begins to drain out of Bangkok

After more than a month of flooding in Thailand and in Bangkok, the flooding water level starts to go down like showing us a sign of peace. So far there were more than 500 casualties of the flooding throughout Thailand. Below there is a flooding map showing the current situation as of 15-16 Nov 2011.

Bangkok flooding update map as of 15-16 Nov 2011

While in many areas of Bangkok the water is almost drained out, the battle still takes place in the North part of the city where the water inflow is just to high for the current pumps. It is true that government allocated a lot of water pumps to drain out the water from the capital. Below here there is the updated flooding situation in a visual presentation.

Water inflow in the North part of Bangkok

* The images are provided by various internet sources and we are not responsible for the accuracy of the data. This is just a blog that wants to keep its readers up to date with the flooding situation in Bangkok and provide other more or less subjective information - just like any other blog.

Flood water enters Bangkok city

Updated situation, as of 8 Nov 2011, on the Bangkok flooding is here  - one thing is for sure: the water enters Bangkok city from below, from down under, from the canals under the city and then it pops-up in houses, yards, streets.

Click on the flooding map on the left to see the full size image.

In the last couple of day the water was allowed in, into city of Bangkok flooding arease of Lak-si and coming down to Ratch-Yothin (Major Ratcha-Yothin) intersection and down to Lad Prao. Water is also present at Rachada-LadPrao intersection, yesterday announcing that water reached Chaophraya Prak Hotel which is very close to Sutthisan intersection (Rachadapisek road).

What is coming next we shall see. I think this is a proof that other areas of the city can be flooded and nothing can actually be safe here. So this also means that condo and houses/land prices will not grow exponentially in the non-flooded areas compared to flooded areas - but this is a speculation only - mine. :)

Anyway it seems that Chatuchak Market is open even tho the flooding water is at its gates. They are using pumps to get rid of the water allowing people to do shopping. About 50% of the shops are actually open.

On Phahon Yothin road water from the north is spreading to the Kamphaeng Phet intersection and creeping nearer to the Mor Chit northern bus station, reports said on Sunday. At the Lat Phrao intersection, the water has reached in front of St John's University.

In the west, the floodwater has reached Soi Kamnan Maen in Bang Ban district and previous reports say that water will reach Rama II road shortly (this was on TV on Saturday night)

The risk is higher now than last week when the water tides were the highest. Why is that? Why this turns out to be a never-ending story? I don't know but I know "we" like publicity!

There is a updated flooding and risk map below for Eastern Bangkok:

Eastern Bangkok flooding protection and risk

However, a lack of coordination between water management officials at both the city and national level has probably put more areas in danger.

In a "new" worst-case scenario, the only option to solve the crisis would be to let the water drain through flood-ways which are not regulated by gates or pumps resulting in no control over the flow.

"Water drainage via flood-ways is something people on the job don't want to talk about," said Sutat Weesakul, a member of the Water Drainage in Disaster Areas Committee.

"They all know that by draining water via flood-ways, people downstream could be at high risk of being flooded."

The eastern side of Bangkok, home to Suvarnabhumi airport and the Bang Chan and Lad Krabang industrial estates, is a major concern for business, politicians and officials.

Rachadapisek road flooded - my-asia-travels.blogspot.com/2011/11/bangkok-rachadapisek-road-flooded.html

Bangkok flooding protection measures

As of 2nd of November 2011 instead of saying that water is being drained and everyday is better, we can say that flooding water advances in Bangkok and reaches Pahon Yothin road around intersection of Racha-Yothin which is not a place that should be flooded anyways. Seems all of this happens due to the fact that they are letting the water come in ... ok, prepare the boots and boats! :)

Recent updates, as of Monday 31 October 2011, are saying that the flooding situation will not get any worse than it already is, which is a "happy flooding news" in a way, still sorry for all those under water! The Prime Minister of Thailand said that the flooding in Bangkok is unlikely to get any worse than it is now.

On the other side a bunch of "citizens" (they used "angry villagers" in the news) take the law in their hands as about 500 local residents who earlier on Monday blocked a section of Nimit Mai Road and destroyed part of the canal floodwall in Khlong Sam Wa district. They were demanding the government raise the sluicegate from an 80cm opening to 150cm.

Good job guys! haha + speechless ! ... :-) ... so finally government agreed to their protests.

She said that all the watergates were now controlled, the water level would stabilise over the next day or two.

The floodgate at Khlong Sam Wa would be operated systematically to make sure the Lat Krabang and Bang Chan industrial estates in the east were not affected.

As of 30 October 2011, it seems that Bangkok is a bit more stable in terms of flooding but still the flooding is serious as residents living along canals in parts of northern Bangkok were warned Sunday to be ready to evacuate if needed because of the spread of floods that have so far spared most of the Thai capital.


"The problem is not yet over. It's still serious," said Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra.

"People who live on both sides of canals in Lak Si, Lad Prao, Chatuchak and Bang Khen: be ready to evacuate to safer areas," he said, referring to four northern Bangkok districts.


Based on the latest news, we are still unsure on how the flooding would affect Bangkok city so about 50,000 troops have been deployed in Bangkok and neighbouring provinces under an action plan to protect important establishments from inundation.


The situation is more serious at Charoen Krung road in Yan Nawa district of Bangkok which is now under more than 50 centimetres deep water, the reports said.

The overflow also inundated Songwad road in Bangkok’s Sampantawong district, according to the reports and water level was reported at 50-80 cm.


14 roads were closed in Bangkok due to flooding, and these are:

Northern of Bangkok:
1. Vibhavadi Rangsit: between National Memorial and Lak Si intersection
2. Phahon Yothin: between National Memorial and Soi Phahon Yothin 50
3. Khamphaeng Phet 6 (local road): between the entrance to Muang Ake housing estate to Thung Song Hong intersection
4. Songprapa: between Sri Saman and Kor Sor Bor intersections
5. Weluwanaram: the entire road
6. Liap Khlong Song: between Air Force Palathikarn and Sapan Poon intersections
7. Chantharubeksa: between Air Force Academy and Chantharubeksa intersections

Western Bangkok:
8. Charan Sanitwong: between Bang Phlad intersection and Sirindhorn interchange
9. Arun Amarin: between Arun Amarin intersection and Sirindhorn elevated road
10. Boromratchachonnani:between Pin Klao bridge and Sirindhorn elevated road
11. Boromratchachonnani:between Phutthamonthon 3 and Phutthamonthon 4 intersections
12. Sirindhorn: between Bang Phlat intersection and Sirindhorn elevated road
13. Uthayan: between Uthayan and Phutthamonthon 3 intersections
14. Sala Thammasop: the entire road


Here below there is a map of flooding situation in Bangkok as of 28 Oct 2011

Bangkok flooding update 28 Oct 2011

It said that the highest levels of water will be reached in Chao Phraya river during this weekend and more exactly on Saturday, 29 Oct 2011, after which water is expected to decrease but again, it is not sure yet how hard Bangkok will be hit by the flooding and for how long.

Bangkok flood worse case scenario

Wednesday morning I posted the worst case scenario which was confirmed now in the evening at a Thai local TV station. Now it is not anymore the worst case scenario but it is something that is going to happen in the next hours in Bangkok. Simply said, they tried to stop the water which was not the smartest idea as now there are 4,000 million cubic meters of water running down towards Bangkok city!

The worst case scenario in regards to Thailand and more exactly Bangkok flooding in 2011 is illustrated in the below graphic. So far various areas of Bangkok are already flooded like Don Muang, areas around Chao Phraya river, around Grand Palace and more. There are no floodings in central Bangkok yet (as of 26 October 2011).

Bangkok blooding - worse case scenario 2011

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra warned Bangkok residents in all areas last night to brace for flooding after advancing runoff from the north of Bangkok surged into Don Mueang airport yesterday.

In addition to the scenario presented above, the real situation map is right below in the illustration. 

Bangkok flooding situation - 26 October 2011

Khlong Hok Wa flood barrier is one of the two major barriers that block floodwater runoff from Pathum Thani from surging into the northern part of Bangkok. The other barrier is in tambon Lak Hok of Pathum Thani which connects to Bangkok's Don Muang district.

Floodwater destroyed some earth dykes near Lak Hok flood barrier raising concerns over pressure from a huge volume of water flowing into the city.

Don't forget to drop a note if you have any comments.

Bangkok flood warning for 6 districts

The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority has urged Bangkok residents to store tap water for use during the flood crisis.

The dyke along the MWA's Khlong Prapa canal had broken, allowing overflow from Khlong Rangsit to flow into Khlong Prapa, which supplies drinking water for the Bangkok city.

"Still, Bangkok residents should store tap water for use as the flooding this year is worse than expected," he said.


The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration late Sunday issued a warning for people in six districts to prepare for flooding as the huge amount of water from the North continues to bear down on the capital.

The six districts are Don Mueang, Lasksi, Bang Khen, Chatuchak, Bang Sue and Sai Mai.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra warned residents to remove their belongings and cars to higher ground.

The Nonthaburi high amount of water is to arrive in Bangkok in the next several days. Residents in western Bangkok and adjacent districts of Nakhon Pathom face a challenging week, with massive run-off heading their way from Nonthaburi.

The flooding and disaster situation map as of 24 October 2011 is right below;

Bangkok water disaster map