Yep, there's a flood coming.
Friday, October 21, 2011 at 11:22AM "The immense mass of water tumbling down from the lower North and upper Central regions has finally arrived and will completely surround Bangkok by the weekend [a city of eleven million people!]. The fate of the capital's residents now depends on the flood barriers and walls, some erected over the years and some having just been put up overnight to prevent overflow from the various klongs that carry water to the Chao Phraya River and eventually into the Gulf of Thailand." - Bangkok Post, October 21, 2011. The live web cam above is about a mile from my house on the river itself. In the upper left corner you can just see the top of the dyke holding the water back. the "+3.00" on the above scale means 3 meters above mean high tide, as this part of the river is still estuarial. Next week-end an especially high tide is forecast. Wish me luck.
There is a huge flood of water massed above Bangkok which has already flooded many towns upriver.
Ancient towns completely submerged just miles from me.
This is the northern Bangkok suburb of Rangsit, suddenly flooded last night. These neighborhoods are falling one at a time. The flood waters are now only a mile to the west of me, two mikes to the east of me, and three miles to the north of me. What, me worry? My neighborhood committee leader came by last night to say that there could be one meter of water in our area within 24 hours. So far so good: we are still high and dry as of noon on October 21, 2011.
Not far from my house this scene is repeated: people have parked their cars on every on-ramp, fly-over, and elevated Expressway in the city . . . leaving only one lane open. It is only a matter of time before a very selfish person will clog the last remaining lane. (Above photos from the on-line Bangkok Post newspaper.)
People gotta eat! Never accuse Thais of not being smart and flexable! I'll bet it is a good tasting as ever too!
This is the NASA satellite view of the water that is massed above Bangkok as of October 21, 2011. I wonder how all that water is going to get to the sea?
Dr. Jeff Harper
Army chief: Dykes not strong enough
- Published: 21/10/2011 at 12:02 PM
- Online news:
The floodwalls will not be able to protect Bangkok from the huge amount of water running down from the North, national army chief Prayuth Chan-ocha said on Friday.
He said the total volume of water flowing from the North into Ayutthaya, Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani was immense.
"The high velocity of the current means it can break through the barricades and enter Bangkok, as now expected, since they're not permanent structures," Gen Prayuth said.
The government, the army and all other agencies have been trying their best to fight off the powerful flow and drain the water into the eastern and western outskirts of Bangkok, the army chief said.
However, the floodwaters will have to pass through some areas of Bangkok so they can be released rapidly out into the sea.
He said the temporary dykes can only slow down the flow of water, giving authorities more time to assist the people."
Dr. Jeff Harper
"The floods are the worst in at least five decades. It is estimated that water will flow into the Bangkok city area tonight and the government is trying to channel it out to the sea through the eastern and western outskirts of the capital." Prime Minister's statement at 13.00, Oct. 21, 2011.
Dr. Jeff Harper
A new elevation map showing the areas in Bangkok most likely to flood. if it is light or darker blue . . . it has already, or will flood.
Reader Comments (1)
Very distressing to see so many neighborhoods under water. :( I'm hoping for the best for your house and surrounding areas... Stay safe!