BANGKOK: Desperate measures were being taken to throw sandbag fortifications around Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi International Airport this afternoon after the Chao Phraya River burst its banks at seven fresh points, leaving Thailand's capital and its major hub exposed to more serious flooding.
Keeping the rising floodwaters at bay with sandbags is Plan A for the nation's prime international and domestic gateway. But if the worst comes to the worst, Plan B will see flights diverted to other airports at Chiang Mai and Udonthani.
Phuket International Airport as a third option appears to be out of the question because the ageing facility is already overloaded beyond its maximum capacity to the point where aircraft are being urged to park overnight at other regional airports.
The seriousness of Bangkok's situation became evident around noon today with the first of seven new breaches of the capital's sandbag defences. Others followed.
All seven of the threatened districts are outside a larger barrier the government has put up to protect the city centre.
While new Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has been keen to avoid declaring a state of emergency for fear it would damage tourism, today has been Bangkok's worst few hours in a week of severe flooding.
With Suvarnabhumi International Airport preparing for the worst, Don Muang airport, once Bangkok's international and domestic flights hub, has now been closed to air traffic.
Provision has been made to accommodate 3000 flood refugees on the third floor of the airport terminal.
The air force moved most of its aircraft from Don Muang, which is in northern Bangkok, to airfields in the north and north-east of the country.
Phuket, Samui and other tourism destinations have been untouched by the flooding.
Phuket Convoy Set to Truck Tonnes of Aid to Flood VictimsKeeping the rising floodwaters at bay with sandbags is Plan A for the nation's prime international and domestic gateway. But if the worst comes to the worst, Plan B will see flights diverted to other airports at Chiang Mai and Udonthani.
Phuket International Airport as a third option appears to be out of the question because the ageing facility is already overloaded beyond its maximum capacity to the point where aircraft are being urged to park overnight at other regional airports.
The seriousness of Bangkok's situation became evident around noon today with the first of seven new breaches of the capital's sandbag defences. Others followed.
All seven of the threatened districts are outside a larger barrier the government has put up to protect the city centre.
While new Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra has been keen to avoid declaring a state of emergency for fear it would damage tourism, today has been Bangkok's worst few hours in a week of severe flooding.
With Suvarnabhumi International Airport preparing for the worst, Don Muang airport, once Bangkok's international and domestic flights hub, has now been closed to air traffic.
Provision has been made to accommodate 3000 flood refugees on the third floor of the airport terminal.
The air force moved most of its aircraft from Don Muang, which is in northern Bangkok, to airfields in the north and north-east of the country.
Phuket, Samui and other tourism destinations have been untouched by the flooding.
UPDATE The Rotary Club of Patong and five other Rotary groups raised 30,000 baht in floods aid in the space of two hours in a walk around Patong. A convoy of aid is being sent.
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So Phuket has been untouched by the flooding. Tell that to the family of the young man who died from electrocution in Patong due to flooding.
So the flooding in Patong, Chalong and other areas didn't happen?
What about the collapse of the road on the Patong Hill? I guess that's not due to the excessive rain fall either.
Don't paint a rosy picture - your job is to report the news as is.
Posted by Graham on October 19, 2011 16:50
Editor Comment:
Graham, what is it you do, apart from act as some kind of expert on moral and journalistic standards? We don't paint rosy pictures. Nor do we make ridiculous assertions or exaggerations, the way that you tend to do from time to time. Phuket has not suffered the serious floods that still assail more than 20 provinces and Bangkok. Three hundred people have died in flooding that has been continuous for two months. Phuket has had plenty of rain, but no serious, continuous flooding. Rain is not flooding. If you must pick an argument, take it up with reuters, afp, associated press and the other international news agencies that are all saying the same thing. Of course, we could all be wrong, and you could be right. And to be frank, ''my job'' is no business of yours. If you don't like phuketwan, you have plenty of options.