Flooding Update

Thailand:

 

Heavy seasonal rains and a combination of factors such as the run-off from the North, the rise in water level in the major rivers and rivers overflowing their banks, and the release of water from upstream dams to prevent overflow has resulted in extensive flooding in many parts of the country. Although the situation has eased over the past few days there are still some area’s affected by the floodings.

 

 

 

 

South of Thailand:

 

Koh Samui Airport resumes normal operations, but the whole island suffered quite a bit, some flooding remains, in some areas streets and restaurants are damaged and no nightlife exist at this moment.

 

Lamai beach will need of effort and time to recover and Chaweng Lake is full.

 

Electricity is being restored, however most hotels have their own power generators.

 

Ferry services between the islands and the mainland are operating again.

 

Trains to the South resume operation but end at Hat Yai station in Songkhla only.

 

Phuket busses and trains resume services to the South.

 

Flights to Phuket and Krabi are still operating normally.

There is heavy rainfall in Phuket and Krabi but no flooding. Scheduled flights to both destinations are still operating normally.

 

Flood Situation Eases in Songkhla.

 

Restoration work begins reviving Hat Yai after flood recedes.

 

North Thailand: flood water is receding.

 

Northeastern Thailand:

 

Attractions in the Nakhon Ratchasima province have been affected by flooding and remain closed to visitors — such as Phimai National Museum, Phimai Historical Park, the Sai Ngam banyan tree groves, and Ban Prasat Archaeological Site.

 

Bangkok is still on flood alert for the coming weekend with excess water flowing from the north down the Chao Phraya River coinciding with high tides at the river's mouth to the south.

 

All other provinces in Thailand remain unaffected.

 

Note: Khiri Travel's offices in Bangkok are on full alert and look after the well-being of our/your clients

 

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November 03, 2010

Thailand:

 

 

A tropical depression that dumped two days of constant rain on southern Thailand has caused flooding that forced rail services to shut down and inundated large areas of Hat Yai province.

 

 

 

The State Railway of Thailand suspended service on eight routes Tuesday due to flooded tracks in the Songkhla area, but last night flooding as well was reported between Chumpon and Surat Thani. Stranded passengers were later transferred to Surat Thani by bus.

Train services in the South remain irregular and therefore will be carefully monitored by Khiri Travel. All clients with train services in the South in this period are being contacted in advance in order to discuss alternative travel plans.

 

The bad weather also affected the ferry services between Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao and the mainland, all remain canceled for now.

Clients on these islands have been contacted in order to discuss alternative travel plans.

 

Flights to Samui yesterday had to be canceled as well due to the bad weather, but this afternoon Bangkok Airways is supposed to resume services.

 

Bangkok is on flood alert for the coming weekend with excess water flowing from the north down the Chao Phraya River coinciding with high tides at the river's mouth to the south.

 

The situation in Pak Chong, Khao Yai National Park, and other parts of Korat province has returned to normal since 25 October.

However Phimai National Museum and its Historical Park remain closed to visitors due to flooding.

 

In Ayutthaya the following sites have not been affected by the recent flooding and remain open to visitors: Wat Yai Chaimongkhon, Wat Phananchoeng, Wat Phra Mongkhon Bophit, Wat Phra Si Sanphet, Wat Mahathat, Wat Ratchaburana, Wat Lokayusutharam, Chao Sam Phraya National Museum, Chankasem National Museum, Wat Thammikarat, Wat Chai Wattanaram, Bang Sai Royal Folk Arts and Crafts Centre, Koh Kerd Royal Folk Arts and Crafts Centre and Lad Chado Market

 

There is heavy rainfall in Phuket and Krabi but no flooding.

Scheduled flights to both destinations are still operating normally.

 

All other provinces in Thailand remain unaffected.

 

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October 28, 2010

 

Thailand:

The Thai capital experienced only minor flooding along the Chao Phraya River as the city's 77km-long flood-protection system held, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration said. However people living on the riverside were warned to be on alert through tomorrow, after which current high-tide levels were expected to subside.

Some areas along the Chao Phraya River in the capital were flooded on Wednesday morning when high tides coupled with run off from the North caused the river to overflow.

The area around Pakklong Talad, or the flower and vegetable market, was flooded in the morning, and a wooden bridge and sandbags formed temporary walkways at Prannok Pier near Siriraj Hospital.

The Banglumpoo area, including Khao San Road, did not experience any flooding.

The flood water will not go into the inner city area, which is protected by an embankment rising 2.5 metres above the mean sea level. The highest level of the Chao Phraya River was measured at 2.29 metres above sea level this morning.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva said Bangkok should not experience major flooding but authorities will closely monitor the Chao Phraya River over the next day or two.

 

Run-off from heavily flooded northeastern provinces is heading towards the Mekong River, which borders Ubon Ratchathani, causing problems along the way. As Ubon Ratchathani prepares to deal with this, parts of Maha Sarakham and Surin along the Chi and Mun rivers have begun to suffer from the overflow.

In the Central Plains region, the flooding in Lop Buri remained critical yesterday. The flood waters in the province have been high for 10 days.

Laos:
No flooding.

Cambodia:
No flooding.

Vietnam:
The floodwater is subsiding and daily life's activities have almost returned to normal.

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October 27, 2010

Thailand:

In Northeast of Thailand flood waters in two of 13 submerged districts in Khon Kaen have receded. The State Railway of Thailand yesterday announced it would resume normal train services on its northeastern routes, which includes the part to Nong Khai. As of today trains on the Bangkok – Chiang Mai route are running again as well.

In the North, certain districts of Phichit and Phitsanulok continued to suffer severe floods because of continual rain on Monday night combined with inflows of water from nearby Kamphaeng Phet.

Water flowing from flooded provinces in the central region has begun to enter Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi while coastal provinces such as Samut Sakhon are suffering from floods as a result of high tides.

The flood situation in central provinces such as Ayutthaya and Lop Buri has yet to improve.

 

                                             

 

Despite several rain storms last night most of Bangkok, including Banglumpoo, remains dry. Even so, the authorities stay alert as more water is expected to reach the capital today.

Laos: No flooding.

Cambodia: No flooding.

Vietnam:
The floodwater is subsiding and daily life's activities have almost returned to normal. The national railway system is damaged but most trains are running again.

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October 26, 2010

Floods continue to cause damage in 21 provinces in Thailand and threaten to inundate Bangkok this week.

 

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department reported that 21 provinces in the northern, northeastern and central regions have been hit hard by flood affecting more than  one million people. The affected provinces are: Phichit, Chainat, Suphan Buri, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Rayong, Trat, Sa Kaeo, Nakhon Ratchasima, Prachin Buri, Lop Buri, Nakhon Sawan, Chaiyaphum, Saraburi, Phetchabun, Tak, Surin, Buri Ram, Khon Kaen, Lampang and Uthai Thani.

While the floods had eased in some areas, such as central Nakhon Ratchasima and Chaiyaphum, districts and provinces located further downstream were now being inundated.

The Royal Irrigation Department issued a statement saying it had cut the volume of water released from Chao Phraya Dam in Chai Nat and the Pasak Dam in Lop Buri to minimise the water level in the Chao Phraya during the high tide period, which will last until tomorrow. 

                                                                                                                                                                                                            
                                                    

 

The flood was considered the worst in memory in some areas, according to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who has visited the along the Chaophya River areas hard-hit by flood in Nonthaburi province. Mr Abhisit expressed concerns over more water flowing from the North and ordered related authorities to give immediate relief aids, raise the height of flood protection dykes, and build wooded bridges; all of which would make life easier for the flood victims in the province.

Right now Bangkok is on standby with thousands of sandbags and pumps as flood water from the north runs downstream and could coincide with high tide, but so far no major flooding has been reported in the capital. Authorities in the capital have reinforced flood walls with 200,000 sandbags and are building temporary wooden bridges in 27 communities to help people cross waterlogged streets.

Due to flooding train services between Bangkok and Chiang Mai as well as Bangkok and Nong Khai remain problematic and will be checked on a daily basis.

Laos:
No flooding, but Laos is planning the installation of a flood early warning system to avoid loss of life and property due to storms, according to the Water Resource and Environment Administration (WREA).

Cambodia:
Although heavy rains have started again, no flooding has been reported in Phnom Penh , Kampot , Kampong Thom, and Siem Reap.

Note: Khiri Travel's offices in Bangkok are on full alert and look after the well-being of our/your clients

 

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October 22, 2010

 

Devastating floods spreading from northeastern Thailand have created a lot of damage over the past two weeks as heavy rainfall has put entire villages underwater, destroyed crops and disrupted transportation and commerce.

Since October 10, floods have ravaged 21 provinces and those like Lampang, Nakhon Ratchasima and Chaiyaphum suffered the most. Officials describe the flooding as the worst in half a century, damage is estimated at more than $650 million.

At the moment the situation in Bangkok itself is under control although the water level of the Chao Phraya River is very high indeed. With the surge of water moving toward the mouth of the country's largest river system, the government has warned residents in some parts of the capital to prepare for flooding in the coming days.

 

So far the impact on our guests travels has been limited, at times train services between Bangkok – Nong Khai and Bangkok – Chiang Mai are discontinued due to the flooding. However night buses are still operating between these places.

Khiri Travel checks regularly, contacts those whose itineraries need adjusting and provides information regarding alternative transport.
Please keep in mind that additional costs must be paid by the travelers themselves as we are dealing here with a natural disaster. The rainy season is expected to end this month.

Underneath is an overview of often visited places by our guests and the impact (if any) of flooding:

Thailand:
Bangkok = No flooding
Kanchanaburi, incl. Jungle Rafts & Hintok  = No flooding
Ayuthaya = No flooding
Khao Yai National Park = No flooding
Khao Sok National Park = No flooding
Krabi = No flooding
Phuket = No flooding
Khao Lak = No flooding
Koh Samui/Pha-Ngan/Tao = No flooding
Chiang Mai = No flooding
Chiang Rai = No flooding
Koh Chang = No flooding
Aranyaprathet, incl. border area = No flooding
Ubon Ratchatani = No flooding

Laos:
No problems due to Flooding

Cambodia:
Siem Reap: No more flooding
Phnom Penh: No flooding
The Kompong Thom - Sambor Prei Kuk and Battambong - Siem Reap roads were damaged due to heavy rains, but still accessible.

Vietnam:
Heavy rain caused flooding in the central provinces of Nghe An, Quang Binh and Ha Tinh. It stopped raining today but flooding is still everywhere.
Landslides and floods cut off roads, telecommunications and power supply in some areas.
Many roads in Nghe An, Ha Tinh (Cau Treo- Lao Bao border gate) and Quang Binh as well as the Ho Chi Minh Highway are severely inundated.
Some flights and trains are cancelled between October 15 and 18 to ensure the safety of passengers. 
Several groups in town are affected but Khiri Travel managed changes in land services for them.

 

Note: Khiri Travel's offices in Bangkok are on full alert and look after the well-being of our/your clients