Bangkok flooding in pictures route Suttthisan - Lad Phrao - Central Lad Phrao - Chatuchak Park - Saphan Kwai
In the last weeks I heard and read a lot of news, sometimes I was looking at TV in the evening and the news were announcing that the place I live is flooded "water reached to intersection of ..." and the thing is that there was no flooding and still there is none.
Boat out in flooded Bangkok
What I did was to decide that I have to check by myself where there is and where there is no water and flooded areas. Said and done, took out the camera and started the journey. First things was to travel up on Rachada road until I reach water: Fortune city is dry, so is Thailand Cultural Center area, Robinson and BigC and further on Hway Kwang. Going further I reach to Sutthisan intersection - still no flooding water around here and I went further up. About 400-500 meters away from Sutthisan-Rachada intersection there is the Khlong Bang Sue and North of this canal is where the flooding starts.
Pictures in this article illustrates the journey from Chaophraya Park hotel on Ratchada road towards the North, reaching Lad Phrao intersection and then turn left on LadPhrao road.
Truck taxi carrying people - most of them are free of charge
Foreigners playing in the water on Rachada road
Truck ride in the flooded areas of Bangkok
Shell petrol station flooded and closed - Rachada road
Lad Phrao intersection on Rachadapisek road
Perfect blue sky in Bangkok - not much pollution during floodings
Lad Phrao road flooded
All here is flooded. The water is just enough deep for not allowing the small cars to pass but not high enough to produce any damage to houses or big cars - this looks like a scenario written already. Water is just there, not to much, not to less - just perfect to create an inconvenience and from my point of view, to spend more money on booths and water protection.
So from Lad Phrao road towards Central Lad Phrao and Union Mall everything is under water. Further on the truck went left towards Chathuchak Park which got some water as well. Mostly is the roads that resemble to a sea of water. The sky is a perfect blue in Bangkok which, believe me, is not easy to find - I do assume this is a result of less and less pollution. Probably only 10-15% of the cars are running in Bangkok these days.
Heading towards Saphan Kwai
Waiting for the bus in Bangkok
Pahon Yohin road near Chatuchak Park - flooded
Sea of Bangkok - water as far as you can see
Pickup truck playing in the floods
All the parkings are full with cars and so are the bridges and express-ways where the people parked their cars for escaping the flood to come.
They say Bangkok has been voted as the No.1 place for travel - I guess it was before the flooding :)
Royal Thai Army trucks for passengers in flooded areas it free of charge
Chatuchak weekend market intersection
Just before reaching BigC at Saphan Kway the flooding stopped and everything is dry again - now we are back South of Khlong Bang Sue.
Conclusion: Inner Bangkok is flooded in a lot of places but it is just a matter of inconvenience for the citizen as the water did not reach dangerous levels and it starts to recede as well. By middle of December should be all gone, this would be my forecast on the Thai flooding of 2011.
Drop me a line if you are flooded or you want to post your pics or comments or ideas, I may help you with this.
Rachadapisek is quite an important road in Bangkok, it is also quite long stretching from South of city all the way up to North. Some of the MRT line is following Rachada road as well.
Below are some flooding pictures as of 06 November 2011. These pictures are taken in front of Chaophraya Park hotel on Rachada road which is 500 meters North of Sutthisan intersection. Starting this place and further up towards Lad Phrao both sides of the Rachadapisek road are flooded and water is increasing with every minute.
We could see water rising about 5 cm is approx. 10 minutes which is quite much.
Klong Bang Sue on Ratchada road - high water level flooding houses along
Here the Rachada flooding starts
Bus on Rachada road - small cars are not allowed further than Suthisan
Royal Thai Army transporting passengers to the other side of LadPhrao intersection
Sea of Bangkok directly on Rachada road
Bangkokians gathering to see the flood (most of them)
Khlong Bang Sue - on Rachada road, high water level 06 Nov 2011
Water rising out from the underground channels on Rachadapisek road
The road from Suthisan intersection further on Rachada road is closed for small cars.
Ratchadaphisek (Thai: รัชดาภิเษก) is the district that follows the northeastern portion of Ratchadaphisek Road. It is located north of Sukhumvit, east of Phahonyothin and west of Ramkhamhaeng districts. Since the completion of the metro (MRT) line, Ratchadaphisek has developed into an entertainment mecca for the locals with dozens of clubs, theatres, karaoke bars, bowling alleys and even an ice skating rink and more. Foreign visitors are drawn to its seafood restaurants, cultural performances and "massage parlours" (brothels). The part of Ratchadaphisek Road that runs along the Queen Sirikit National Convention Centre is dealt with under Sukhumvit.
The northern runoff is now flowing towards Bangkok's Saphan Khwai intersection, in an inner district of Bang Sue, about 500 metres away, reports said.
The mass volume go water on Monday morning inundated the Kampaengphet intersection near Chatuchak Sunday market. The floodwater was 30 to 40 centimetres deep, impassable for small vehicles.
Traffic police at Bang Sue police station expected the floodwater to arrive at Saphan Khwai intersection about noon today, according to the reports.
On Vibhavadi Rangsit road, the runoff from Lat Phrao intersection arrived at headquarter of the country’s largest local daily, Thai Rath, flooding all lanes of the main road.
The floodwater was reported at 50 centimetre and impassable for small cars.
From a 90% chance of no flood in Bangkok yesterday, seems that we are going to a 90% chance that Bangkok will be flooded as the City Hall agreed today to open the canals for drainage - 21 October 2011.
The floods are the worst that Thailand met in at least 5 decades. It is estimated that water will flow into the Bangkok city area tonight (Friday). Government is trying to channel it out to the sea through the eastern and western outskirts of the capital.
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has agreed to help drain northern runoff into the sea through the city's canals as parts of Don Muang and Laksi districts were declared flood-risk zones yesterday.
Bangkok Governor MR Sukhumbhand Paribatra last night issued a flood warning to residents in Thung Si Kan and Don Muang subdistricts in Don Muang district and Thung Song Hong subdistrict in Laksi district.
It is the second warning from the governor in addition to the first order made on Wednesday to seven other districts, but the previous warning was for people to relocate their belongings to high ground only.
He advised people in the three subdistricts to take shelter at Wat Donmuang, Prachautid, Wat Welu Wanaram, Bumrungrawiwanwittaya, Prempracha, and Phahon Yothin schools in Don Muang and Tungsonghong Witthaya, Bangkhen, Kehatungsonghong Witthaya, Wat Laksi and Kankahathasai schools in Laksi.
The governor said the second warning was in response to water overflowing along Khlong Prapa and leaks in barriers in Laksi.
Bangkok draining out map
The announcement came hours after City Hall and the goverment agreed to a plan to drain the northern runoff through Bangkok's canals.
MR Sukhumbhand said yesterday that all the flood gates in Bangkok had been opened to accommodate the government's flood management plan.
A lot of people choose to park the cars on the express ways for the fear of floods.
This is taken near Rangsit market which is flooded
Latest updates on the situation for Thursday, 20 October 2011, are saying that a vast amount of floodwater will definitely occupy Bangkok as several sections of the floodwall along the Raphipat canal have been damaged. This comes from a Royal Irrigation Department (RID) engineering division chief for Northern Rangsit.
There were cracks from the first to the fifth canal and floodwaters had already surged into Pathum Thani's Khlong Luang and Thanyaburi districts, RID officials said.
"The water will certainly reach Bangkok because the barricades surrounding the Chulalongkorn floodgate are not as strong as the dykes at Raphipat."
Mr. Chuchart said.
News coming in at around 5:00PM Bangkok time says different tho in regards to Bangkok flooding.
About 90 per cent of Bangkok will not be flooded, Justice Minister and Flood Relief Operations Centre director Pracha P. said on Thursday afternoon.
"I'm confident that 90 per cent of Bangkok will not be flooded but authorities will continue monitoring the remaining 10 per cent of the capital city."
"After overseeing the flood situation from helicopter this morning, the situation remains stable," Pol Gen Pracha said after visiting a temporary shelter in Don Mueang airport.
The people living in the inner Bangkok should not be worried about the flooding.
Updated: 20.Oct.2011
In order to try to save the economic heart of the capital from flooding, the government has finally opted to use the eastern part of Bangkok to drain massive amounts of floodwaters from the northern outskirts. The drainage of floodwaters through eastern Bangkok will affect seven of its districts, namely Sai Mai, Klong Sam Wa, Kannayao, Min Buri, Lat Krabang, Bang Khen and Nong Chok.
All six districts of Nonthaburi province are now flooded with Bang Bua Thong and Pak Kret districts being the worst hit. I know people living around Bang Bua Tong and they are staying in the houses at the second floor as the first floor is all flooded. Some were more lucky and took the value objects up to the second floor, others just saw their kitchen and living rooms flooded with all the furniture and electronics in.
In regards to the drinking water The Metropolitan Waterworks Authority has declared tap water in the capital safe after failing to find hazardous chemicals that may have leaked from inundated industrial parks in Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani.
The most updated map is here below and it shows how the goverment plans to divert the water to East and West through 3 canals.
Bangkok flood - water redirection for saving Bangkok city
Bangkok is getting flooded already, City Hall has advised residents of over 200 households outside Bangkok's
floodwalls along Khlong Hok Wa canal in Sai Mai district to evacuate to
two temporary shelters on Wednesday.
Thai flooding news are saying that seven districts of Bangkok are at high risk of flooding and people in the areas should move their belongings to higher places.
The districts are Lat Krabang, Nong Chok, Minburi, Klong Samwa, Kannayao, Sai Mai and Bangkhen.
Below here there is a map of flooding including the danger level.
Thailand: Bangkok and surroundings flooding 2011 - danger areas in the city
The flooding in Nonthaburi province (nearby Bangkok) has reached a critical level, with all districts now inundated, the provincial governor said on Wednesday. Future Park Rangsit mall is also closed today and will be closed tomorrow as well due to floodings.
This being said shall we expect water in Bangkok city? Yes or yes?
Last night (Tuesday) Thai TV presented news in English but the way of speaking was quite unclear and a bit around the subject which may be normal for how things are spoken here but certainly does not give an answer for the Bangkok population.
People working at the many flooded factories will not loose their jobs and will receive monthly income from the Social Security Fund. So far the foreign companies do not plan to close any factories, and we are talking about Canon, Honda and more.
Morning 19 October:
The industrial estate Nava Nakorn is completely submerged and the residents forced to fee the area. Nonthaburi province residents in three tambons of Pak Kret district have been told to prepare to evacuate after water runoff from Pathum Thani surged into the area.
Authorities reported that the rapid increase in flood levels was caused by excess water overflowing the Phraya Banlue water gate in Nonthaburi's Bang Bua Thong district. Floods in certain areas have risen above three (3) metres.
In protection of Bangkok city the six-kilometre-long dykes were built to a height of 2.5m above the mean sea level and more are under construction with 500,000 sandbags.
But that seemed not to be enough for the campaign as Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra said the BMA needed 2 million sandbags for the dyke in 48 hours. The BMA can produce 250,000 more per day and the government has promised to supply 1 million more.
"We need to make the barrier wider and stronger. That is our objective today," the governor said.
Afternoon 18 October:
It seems that the water level at Pak-kret Municipality, on the north of Nonthaburi, at noon was up two centimetres from yesterday according to a reporter who lives in Pakkret and has been inspecting the water level at noon for the past six days.
The current is swift and strong. It takes about 2 hours for the water mass from Pakkret to reach the heart of Bangkok.
Morning 18 October:
The flooding in Thailand and North part of Bangkok continues as of 18 October 2011. Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand P. has warned that the capital city could be hit by floods tomorrow (Wednesday), as a large volume of northern runoff has been flowing into Khlong Rangsit, putting the north of the city at risk.
The torrent of water is expected to reach old airport, Don Meuang, within tomorrow.
The government had alerted City Hall that they could no longer hold back the flood water and that they could not reduce the amount flowing into Khlong Rangsit, Khlong 8 and Khlong 9 in neighbouring Pathum Thani province.
Not sure exactly where to expect the water in Bangkok city and I certainly hope that not in all the streets!
The Nava Nakorn Industrial Estate in Pathum Thani has become the latest casualty of flooding as some parts of the estate have been hit by northern runoff, prompting the government to issue immediate evacuation alerts for workers and nearby residents.
Torrents of northern runoff on Monday breached an embankment in the north of the industrial estate near Khlong Chiang Rak, submerging more than 10 manufacturing plants.
I found out in the Thai flooding news that the flood protection dyke at Nava Nakorn Industrial Estate has five metre rupture so The National Flood Relief Centre announces halt of factory operations at Nava Nakorn Industrial Estate, orders evacuation of the workers and nearby residents in this area.
While trying to protect the capital Bangkok and the industrial sites the high tide causes 1-2 metre flood in Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi - another barrier shored up to protect Navanakorn Industrial Estate in Pathum Thani.
Bangkok governor, Mr. Sukhumbhand Paribatra, has calmed fears over heavy floods in the capital, he said that the situation is not yet critical even tho water levels in the Chao Phraya river hit a record yesterday (Sunday)
16.OCT.2011
The Factory Land Industrial Estate in Ayutthaya's Wang Noi district, the last factory in Ayutthaya which had earlier survived flooding, has finally succumbed to flood Sunday.
Currently, all five industrial estates in Ayutthaya are under water, including four industrial estates - Saha Rattana Nakhon, Bang Pa-in, Rojana, and Hi-Tech - earlier hit by flooding. All five industrial estates are valued at about 200 billion baht in total investment capital and employ more than 200,000 workers.
Meanwhile, the National Flood Relief Centre is still confident that Navanakhon Industrial Estate in Pathum Thani can be spared from flooding.
14.OCT.2011
Chances for precipitations are high (60%-80%) in the next days in Thailand. In the same time the Prime Minister instructed authorities to hastily dredge the canals in West of Bangkok for discharging the flood water into the sea via the ThaChin river and so to prevent flooding of the Bangkok city.
Many of the car owners in Bangkok decided to park their car(s) in the public parkings (shopping malls, Suwarmabhumi airport and more) for keeping it safe in case of flood.
Khon Kaen has been declared a disaster zone as the water dam is under high pressure from the water being at a very high level.
13.OCT.2011
The Hi-Tech industrial Estate in Ayutthaya is now flooded and it can not be protected. Day by day waters are coming towards Bangkok more and more. “The government will do its best to protect the city, but we can only build the barrier,” said Kittiratt, who last week described the deluge as the worst in at least 50 years. “If the water level exceeds the barrier, there is a chance the inner part of Bangkok will be flooded.”
It is still about a 10% chances that Bangkok inner city will be more or less flooded, authorities mentioned that they would issue warnings tho.
12.OCT.2011
There were several parking spaces made available for the cars, for example Suwarnaphumi airport has a large parking building which is made available to the citizen who wants to park their cars as flooding came in many areas of country and Bangkok.
On another side Thailand's Prime Minister can not confirm that Bangkok can escape the flood, due to uncontrolled factors - says government doing its best. Now the government has ordered every available measure be taken to protect Bangkok's inner-city commercial and residential districts from flooding as torrents of northern run-off began to sweep through floodwalls in outer suburbs, inundating many communities.
Residents from Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Prakan and Chachoengsao were warned on Wednesday (11.Oct) to watch out for more flooding.
Northern run-off is expected to reach Bangkok between Friday and Monday at a time when there are also expected to be high sea tides.
A total of 281 people were confirmed dead and two people were missing in the floods that have inundated many provinces since July 25, Wibul Sanguanpong, director general of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, said on Wednesday.
11.OCT.2011
I was informed this morning that the flooding water reached Bangkok around Bang Bua Thong region and in some places the water is up to knees level as the Chao Phraya river fury continues. In Nakhon Sawan province (North of Bangkok) the municipal authorities and soldiers were racing to salvage the province's economic centre after the Chao Phraya River burst through an embankment in the heart of the city yesterday morning.
See here a video with Ayutthaya (old capital) flooded - not far from Bangkok.
10.OCT.2011
Currently, as 10th of October 2011, many of Thailand's provinces are flooded due to the heavy rain which caused the Chao Phraya river to flow out. Ayutthaya province seems the most affected by the flooding including factories which had to stop working and world heritage sites which are endangered now. There are several provinces under water and the danger gets closer to Bangkok.
About 261 people have died since late July in flood-related incidents, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said. Some 2.3 million people have been affected in the worst flooding to hit parts of Thailand in 50 years, mainly in the centre, north and northeast.
