Thread: Bangkok Floods, 18th November, 2011-Six injured in explosion at floodwall

Thailand Floods Pictures November 17th - Monsters and Critics


Thai residents walk on a temporary elevated pathway across a flooded major highway in Bangkok, Thailand, 17 November 2011. The worst flooding in five decades has claimed over 500 lives and caused billions of dollars in damages industrial manufacturing plants, much of it foreign-owned and tourist sites shaving at least one per cent off the country's economic growth. EPA/RUNGROJ YONGRIT

A Thai resident wades through floodwaters at Don Mueang district in Bangkok, Thailand, 17 November 2011. The worst flooding in five decades has claimed over 500 lives and caused billions of dollars in damages industrial manufacturing plants, much of it foreign-owned and tourist sites shaving at least one per cent off the country's economic growth. EPA/RUNGROJ YONGRIT

Stranded Thai residents wait for transportation at a flooded major road in Bangkok, Thailand, 17 November 2011. The worst flooding in five decades has claimed over 500 lives and caused billions of dollars in damages industrial manufacturing plants, much of it foreign-owned and tourist sites shaving at least one per cent off the country's economic growth. EPA/RUNGROJ YONGRIT

Thai residents transport by boat passes portrait of Thai King Bhumibol Adulyadej on a major road near an Air Force base in Bangkok, Thailand, 17 November 2011. The worst flooding in five decades has claimed over 500 lives and caused billions of dollars in damages industrial manufacturing plants, much of it foreign-owned and tourist sites shaving at least one per cent off the country's economic growth. EPA/RUNGROJ YONGRIT

Bangkok Post : Samae Dam residents flee

Samae Dam residents flee

Water still rising in Bang Khun Thian

• Published: 18/11/2011 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: News

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration yesterday declared more evacuation areas in Samae Dam sub-district of Bang Khunthian district as floodwaters continued to rise rapidly on the Thon Buri side of the capital.

The new areas included Bang Khun Thian Road from the intersection with Rama II Road to Wong Wian Yai-Mahachai railway and various sois off Bang Khunthian Road.

The BMA's announcement said water was rising steadily and rapidly in Bang Khunthian district.

Residents were advised to evacuate as soon as possible to a shelter provided by the BMA and to move their belongings to higher places.

Somchai Traipittayakul, deputy chief of Bang Khunthian district, said 3,000 to 4,000 households were being evacuated to shelters at schools and the Bang Khunthian youth centre.

Mr Somchai said the level of floodwater on Bang Khunthian Road rose to between 20cm and 30cm yesterday. On the inbound lane of Rama II, floodwater began to burst through manholes along the road. Mr Somchai said water at the Thon Buri 3 housing estate on Rama II Soi 62 was between 30cm and 40cm deep.

Rama II Soi 82 was under 15cm to 20cm of water while the floodwater at Rama II Soi 92 was 15cm deep.

However, Rama II Road was still serviceable, Mr Somchai said, adding that efforts are being made to dredge Khlong Rang Kaew, Khlong Lat Lamphu and Khlong Si Baht to speed up the flow of water.

Rising floodwater in Bang Khunthian district prompted about 100 residents from Rama II Soi 69 to blockade the road in front of Tesco Lotus on Rama II Road at 8pm yesterday. They demanded City Hall speed up water drainage from their soi.

Meanwhile, the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) yesterday said 96 more water pumps have been deployed to help drain floodwater from the west of Bangkok into the Tha Chin River.

The RID said that when the flooding in eastern Bangkok begins to ease, water pumps in the area will be moved to improve drainage on the west side.

The RID said 18 water-pushing devices have been installed in canals in the west to help drive water into the sea more quickly and 37 water-pushing devices deployed at the Tha Chin River to speed the water flow into the sea.

Thailand Floods Pictures November 17th - Monsters and Critics


Thai residents walk on a temporary elevated pathway across a flooded major highway in Bangkok, Thailand, 17 November 2011. EPA/RUNGROJ YONGRIT

Thai police officers take position next to angry residents demonstrate on boat calling to remove sandbags flood barrier on Phahon Yothin road near Air Force base in Bangkok, Thailand, 17 November 2011. EPA/RUNGROJ YONGRIT

Angry Thai residents throw floodwaters to police officers during a protest calling to remove sandbags flood barrier on Phahon Yothin road near Air Force base in Bangkok, Thailand, 17 November 2011.

Angry Thai residents demolish the sandbags flood barrier on Phahon Yothin road near the Air Force base in Bangkok, Thailand, 17 November 2011.

From pestles to battleships

From pestles to battleships

Faced with shortages at supermarkets, Bangkokians are turning to local stores and wet markets

• Published: 18/11/2011 at 12:00 AM
• Newspaper section: Life

On a regular shopping day, where do you get your groceries, at a malodorous wet market or an air-conditioned supermarket?


Weekends or weekdays, rain or sun, dry or flooded, wet markets and local general stores always cater to their communities. ANUSORN SAKSEREE

How about buying household necessities like toiletries and laundry goods, do you patronise a small general store at the mouth of the soi or a multi-level hypermarket?

And what if you need to do some home improvements, will you check out a local hardware joint or drive to a big-brand retailer with aisles of tools and building materials systematically laid out?
Seven out of 10 people will pick the latter option for all three questions.

Thanks to their attractive environment and immense variety of goods, today more than half the city population frequents modern retail facilities for almost all their household requirements. Compared to old-fashioned community vendors, which are now facing the last breath of fortune, modern stores are perceived as more inviting, more comprehensive and, most importantly, more dependable.

Over the past few weeks, urban dwellers, overwhelmed by the fear of flooding, have rushed to their usual retail outlets for bottled water, eggs, instant noodles, canned food, plastic sheets, glue, silicone putty and duct tape, only to be blithely told that such goods are out of stock.

Panic-stricken, they quickly shifted to other branches only to be greeted by empty shelf upon empty shelf. After checking out many supermarkets, superstores, hypermarkets and big-name hardware outlets, Bangkokians came to the sobering conclusion that the city was facing a serious shortage of food and consumer goods.


With the mushrooming of airconditioned supermarkets and multi-level hypermarkets, local grocers may be facing their last opportunity.

Empty shelves at modern retail facilities may be giving the public a false alarm, however. The truth is, food _ fresh and preserved _ as well as drinking water are still plentiful at local fresh markets, while essential hardware items are always within reach at ubiquitous streetside hardware shops.

"Small community stores have helped me a great deal in this situation. Whereas I couldn't find plastic buckets, silicone and glue at [a big-brand home improvement outlet], I was able to get all of them right here at the ran cho huay [local general store] near my house. And, let me tell you, what you can't find at [a famous convenient store], you can find at your local shop. It may sound like idle talk but it's definitely the truth," said Suda Chaisanit, a middle-aged housewife from Sai Mai district.

Restaurateur Kanita Tungwarapojwitan has been through a similar situation. She said that when she heard the flood was approaching the downtown area, she and her partner quickly headed to a home improvement superstore to get building materials to protect their restaurant, only to find that they were out of stock.

''We began to panic and starting calling friends and family for help. But as we drove along Rama IV Road, we saw a small hardware shop and decided to make a stop. I couldn't believe that the quaint little shop had everything we needed whether it was putty, silicone guns or PVC pipes. Most impressively, they hadn't raised the prices.

''So from then on, I've put my trust in small traders. While a lot of people were complaining about the scarcity of instant noodles, I was able to get many boxes from a grocer in a wet market and give them to my employees. You should try going to Klong Toey or Asoke market and you'll find everything, '' Kanita said.

The restaurant owner also added that even though she understands that factors like logistics and manufacturing capacity at factories may have caused the current inventory failure at modern stores, deep down she was truly disappointed with the shopping facilities she had always relied on.

''I feel that modern retailers have failed to support us in the time we need them most. Instead, we can always rely on small shops that we've been taking for granted for years,'' she added.

Certainly, the flooding crisis has brought more customers to local shops. Yet, shopkeepers don't see this as a reason to be joyful. ''Our sales volume have increased dramatically since the flood. But I'm not happy because most customers seem very desperate and stressful,'' said Pornthip Tangjai, a grocer in the Sukhumvit area.

''Over these past weeks people came particularly for basics like rice, sugar, water and eggs. I always tell them to buy a little at a time so we have enough supplies for everybody. In a critical time like this, I don't think it's a good idea to overstock but to consume wisely and frugally so we don't generate more trash,'' she said.

Pornthip's grocery shop, established before she was born, has been a stable yet sometimes overlooked retailing resource in the community for more than 40 years. The relationship between shopkeepers and customers seems to be built solely on compassion and trust.

''We do our best to serve our customers. For example, today you may come looking for an item that we don't have, but tomorrow or the day after you will find the product available. Because we are a small trader, we don't have to go by contracts or shipping schedules with manufacturers or big trading agents. We can get merchandise from anywhere and at anytime we want. We might even sell our household belongings if the customer is in real need. Some might not have cash today but they can get what they want and pay later. They trust us to provide them with good products, so we trust them to settle payments too,'' said Pornthip.
Nusara Jirarattanatham, a local shopkeeper in Huay Khwang district, also offered some interesting thoughts.

''It's like an instinct that runs in the blood of cho huay shopkeepers. We must provide for our customers no matter what. If they ask for it, we have to do our best to have it in our store. At megastores manned by salaried employees, they don't care if one little product has run out of stock. But we do.''

Nusara said that in the past, hardware goods were the only things sold at her five-decade-old shop. But as more and more customers _ mostly construction workers _ came asking for items like flip flops, cooking utensils and toiletries, Nusara's mother quickly responded to their needs. Today, her one-unit shophouse store carries a bewildering selection_ everything from axes, hammers and electrician's tools to laundry powder, mosquito nets, mortars and kratip (bamboo containers for sticky rice).

''While a modern marketing class might teach you to better focus on one product, my mother, like other people of the old generation, believes that we should sell everything that's in demand. That's why my friends often joke that my shop has sakkabuea yan ruea rob [from pestles to battleships]. Indeed we have everything except the battleship,'' Nusara said with a smile.

She said that her family business has become so much busier with the flooding situation that she even dreamed about rubber boots, putty, duct tape and plastic sheets at night.

''Our shop opens every day, from 6:30am-8pm. Surprisingly, the busiest time of the day is early in the morning. We don't close on holidays because we know the customers need us no matter if it's a weekend or weekday, rain or shy, dry or flooded,'' said the young owner of the local hardware shop.

''It's obvious that small and musty village stores and sticky and slippery local markets that we had long forgotten are now coming to the rescue,'' said Suda, the housewife.

''Even though many markets have been flooded, their trading continues. Some are operating amid knee-level water _ with bus stops and motorcycle taxi pick-up points turned into boat piers,'' she added.

Meanwhile restaurateur Kanita, thoughtfully concluded, ''This has made me think about our future. If these local shops can't survive in today's capitalism, who's going to help us again in a future crisis?''


Empty shelves at modern retail facilities may be giving the public a false alarm. The truth is, food and building materials are still plentiful at local shops.

Thailand Floods Pictures November 17th - Monsters and Critics


Angry Thai residents demonstrate calling to remove sandbags flood barrier on Phahon Yothin road near Air Force base in Bangkok, Thailand, 17 November 2011

Thai flood victims rest inside the evacuation center inside Rajamangala National Stadium, Bangkok, Thailand, 17 November 2011.

Angry Thai residents protest calling to remove sandbags flood barrier on Phahon Yothin road near Air Force base in Bangkok, Thailand, 17 November 2011.

Angry Thai residents clash with police officers during a protest calling to remove the sandbag flood barrier on Phahon Yothin road near the Air Force base in Bangkok, Thailand, 17 November 2011.

14 roads tentatively open to traffic - The Nation

14 roads tentatively open to traffic

The Nation November 18, 2011 11:06 am


The Metropolitan Police's Traffic Command reported yesterday that 14 Bangkok roads were unofficially reopened after flood waters subsided.

They were Phaholyothin Road to the Ratchayothin Intersection, VibhavadiRangsit Road to the Lat Phrao Intersection, RamIntra Road from Km 18, Lat Phrao Road, Ratchadaphisek Road to the RatchadaLat Phrao Intersection, Khamphaeng Phet Road, Ngam Wongwan Road from the Bang Khen to the Phong Phetch Intersection, Charan Sanitwong Road from Rama VII Bridge to Charan Sanitwong Soi 34, Somdet Phra Pinklao Road, Arun Amarin Road from Rama VIII Bridge to Arun Amarin Intersection, Rajavithi Road, Borommarajajonani Road to Buddha Monthon 2 Road, Ratchapreuk Road and the elevated highway to Taling Chan Police Station.

Vendors told to look out for stolen goods - The Nation

Vendors told to look out for stolen goods

The Nation November 18, 2011 11:06 am


Police are looking out for thieves trying to sell valuables stolen from flooded houses to pawnshops and secondhand goods shops.

Shopkeepers noticing anyone trying to sell something cheaply or that does not look like it belongs to them should record the suspicious person's details and alert police, National Police spokesman Piya Uthayo said yesterday. Offenders could be charged with theft or possession of stolen goods.

The police chief and senior police would visit floodhit provinces and hand out relief kits in Nakhon Sawan on Wednesday and in Ayutthaya on Friday, he said.

TAN_Network TAN News Network

Vendors in Ayuthaya return to Hua Roh market after water recedes but only selling on roadsides, market still untidy after water down-FM100.5

Nat'l Disaster Warning Center: Bkk capable of draining 11 million CBM of water/day, current volume at 267 million CBM.

Special routes to be prepared at Kor Or Por Intersection to allow residents in Rangsit/LumLukka to travel into Bkk w/ ease.

National Disaster Warning to review flood water management to alleviate plights of locals living north of BigBag barrier.

Nonthaburi locals to gather at provincial hall noon asking for clarity on flood relief measures after being flooded for over a month-ThaiPBS

Traffic now passable at 5-way Lad Prao junction, Central Ladprao opens for business.

Opening of Phraya Suren sluice gate caused 5-50cm flooding (8AM) on Hathairaj-Sukhapiban Rd.

Need advice on how to gauge integrity of your home's electrical system after floods? Call Met Electricity Authority at 02-256-3222 or 1130

BigBag barrier continues to dominate headlines, gap at Phraya Suren could threaten Bang Chan Industrial Estate.

Tulip_Oum Tulip Naksompop

RT [at]MCOT_Eng: PM to explain post-flood plan to Japanese, US leaders, in bilateral talks on ASEAN summit sidelines, to restore confidence

Tomorrow (Nov 19) to be another negotiation at PrayaSurane sluice gate. FROC wants BMA to talk, BMA wants FROC to go talk.~[at]jomquan

Central LadPrao and Future Park Rungsit open today (Nov 18).RT [at]js100radio

7:23am water level in front of SaiMai hosp comes down to 17cm after Hokwa canal barrier fixed, was 60cm yesterday.~[at]ittipat_Rw

tukky_nt tukky_nt

BTS and MRT operate as normal from 6am-midnight; San Saeb boats run from Wat Sri Boonruang-Pratunam from 5.30am-8.30pm #ThaiPBS

8.30am:Ratchada-Lad Phrao intersection is dry(photo);Ratchayothin in front of SCB HQ remains flooding at40cm high #ch3 pic.twitter.com/DSlTokmn

8.30am: Floodwater on Phaholyothin outbound from Major cineplex is 40cm high, Kaset junction is 50cm #ch3 #thaifloodEng pic.twitter.com/CkH2ZI3g

Thai-ASEAN News Network

Public Health Ministry confident Thailand will not see disease spreading after water recedes

UPDATE : 18 November 2011

The Public Health Ministry is confident that Thailand will not see any spreading of diseases after the flood crisis eases while assuring that measures are up to World Health Organization (WHO) standards

Wittaya Buranasiri, Public Health minister expresses confidence in looking after flood affected victims in all areas focusing on environmental health, preventing plague and epidemic.

Next week tourist attractions and locations will be inspected to give confidence to tourists in visiting the country once the flooding situation improves especially focusing on health concerns and hygeine.

Khlong San Saeb rising higher after authorities open Phraya Suren sluice gate to one metre

Khlong San Saeb rising higher after authorities open Phraya Suren sluice gate to one metre

วันศุกร์ ที่ 18 พ.ย. 2554



BANGKOK, Nov 18 -- Khlong San Saeb is rising higher after the Phraya Suren sluice gate was opened by one metre as demanded by Pathum Thani's Lam Luk Ka district residents.

A large volume of water from Khlong Hok Wa flowing into Khlong San Saeb caused a surge at Wat Sri Bun Rueang pier, but not as much at the Rama IX pumping station.

The canal’s higher water followed the opening of the Phraya Suren sluice gate as demanded by residents of Pathum Thani's Lam Luk Ka district.

Opening the gate will eventually bring higher water at Bangchan intersection and Bangchan Industrial Estate now faces being flooded.

However, the industrial estate has built a Big Bag embankment around its premises to prevent flooding.

Some 300 Pathum Thani residents dismantled a stretch of the sandbag flood barrier at the lower line of Khlong Hok Wa, trying to drain some water from their neighbourhood, located outside the barrier.

After the flood wall was partially pulled down for a 70 metre stretch of the 7km structure, water has again flooded Bangkok's Sai Mai district which was previously almost dry.

However, in the initial negotiation, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) agreed to open the Phraya Suren sluice gate to one metre high from 40cm as demanded by Lam Luk Ka residents, while Sai Mai residents later helped fix the broken sandbag barrier.

Residents of Lam Luk Ka and Sai Mai were scheduled to meet Saturday with Flood Relief Operations Centre (FROC) officials to resolve the problems.

Apart from demanding to lower the differential between the water levels inside and outside barrier to 40cm from 70cm, Lam Luk Ka residents also wanted the government to pay special flood compensation to the affected residents.

The Khlong Hok Wa flood wall is one of two major barriers blocking Pathum Thani floodwater from surging into northern Bangkok. The other barrier is in Pathum Thani’s Lak Hok district, which connects to Bangkok's Don Mueang district.

Meanwhile, the gap at the Big Bag wall at Don Meaung’s Directorate of Air Operations Control intersection has until now not impacted the water level of inner Bangkok. The water level at Khlong Bang Sue stayed at 45cm, lower from Thursday’s level by 5cm.

Water on Phahonyothin Road was declining to 15-20cm.

At Ratchayothin intersection, water was backed up to Major Cineplex Ratchayothin, but Kaset and Bang Khen intersections are still under 30cm water causing difficulty for small vehicles.

FROC on Thursday agreed to open two parts of the Big Bag barrier at the Directorate of Air Operations Control intersection in Don Mueang after talks with local residents affected by the flood wall erected across Phahon Yothin Road. (MCOT online news)

TAN_Network TAN News Network

Saimai officials were able to collect almost 100 license plates, can be picked up at Praya Surane sluice gate yfrog.com/gzv1fxtj

StrontiumDog1 StrontiumDog

11.30 Chaeng Wattana 12, int. 1-4, water too high for cars+foul and mosquitoes everywhere bit.ly/uw8AAf #ThaiFloodEng RT [at]honeypompom

[at]js100radio [at]thapanee3miti นำ้ในซ.แจ้งวัฒนะ12แยก1-4 ยังสูง รถเล็ก-ปิคอัพผ่านไม่ได้ นำ้ขัง เน่าและยุงเยอะมาก [at]6.30 http://pic.twitter.com/PLgOISBP

StrontiumDog1 StrontiumDog

10.30 Entrance to soi 69, Rama 2. Water ankle deep, but further along Rama 2 no flood bit.ly/us4LaP #ThaiFloodEng RT [at]Reporter_js8

10.30น. ปากซอยพระราม2ซอย69 น้ำท่วมระดับข้อเท้า ,ส่วนบนถ.พระราม2หลังลงทางด่วนขาออกมา ไม่มีน้ำท่วมขัง http://pic.twitter.com/5RuaC6Rz

StrontiumDog1 StrontiumDog

10.48 Rama 2, on the way to Bang Kon Tian, raised walkway created, water waist deep bit.ly/tmCF1r #ThaiFloodEng RT [at]Reporter_js8

10.48น. ภาพพระราม2 กลางซอย69 ทางไปบางขุนเทียน ,ระดับน้ำเกือบเอว http://pic.twitter.com/3IH2vO6p

TAN_Network TAN News Network

Bank of Thailand urges financial institutions to provide simple loan collection management for flood affected consumers via ThaiPBS

Water level at footpath in front of SCB park because the area is a basin shape. Small cars shouldn't pass via js100

Talingchan police: Car owners parked on Baromratchachonnani rd (right lane) move their cars immediately after accidents and theft found

BMA reports many canals are still over flowing, water from Salaya keep on coming into Thonburi area

FROC confirms to use negotiation process with flood affected locals along the Khlong Hokwa barrier to clear any misunderstandings

Traffic Police reports Paholyothin rd Kaset junction to Bangkane roundabout water high, small cars can't pass. Traffic Police reports Ratchadapisek rd Rachavibha brdge heading Ratchayothin water at foot path level via ThaiPBS

StrontiumDog1 StrontiumDog

12.05 Protesters close road, Mooban Prigotchati, Saphan Sung (excuse spelling) bit.ly/u6MYpU #ThaiFloodEng RT [at]nooaum

StrontiumDog1 StrontiumDog

11.50ish Pic- Assumption Uni. Alumni distributing aid to people in boats, Rama 2, Soi 69 bit.ly/uxo7HJ #ThaiFloodEng RT [at]Reporter_js8

10.52น. ศิษย์เก่าอัสสัมฯ-จส.100 เริ่มแจกของใช้ส่วนตัวแก่สตรีและเด็ก ทั้งผ้าอนามัย และนมผง http://pic.twitter.com/Igqyg0xm

TAN_Network TAN News Network

Transport min reveals water will not be drained out of Don Muang airport yet, fears flood could affect surrounding communities via ThaiPBS

Mooban Setthakit flooded for weeks now up to 1 meter. Dark, foul-smelled water and mosquitoes everywhere via ThaiReport_Bkk

BMTA provides bus no.114 free of charge along the Aor Tor Kor 3 to the Ladyao regional electricity authority to Bangkane during low waters

Irrigation Department pumps water from Rangsit Prayurasak canal to be released into Chao praya river

Food institution predicts if Samutsakorn is flooded, sea-food industry will be affected causing Bt18,000 Mn in damage per month via ThaiPBS

Thai-ASEAN News Network

BMA to Prepare Comprehensive Flood Rehabilitation Center in Bang Plad District

UPDATE : 18 November 2011

The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has prepared to evacuate more than 3,000 households in Bang Khunthien District.

Meanwhile, an integrated flood rehabilitation center in Bang Plad District will be opened today, as the water-level there continues to decrease.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra ordered people to evacuate from parts of Samae Dum subdistrict of Bang Khunthien, from Rama II Road Intersection to the railroad between Wongwien Yai and Mahachai, including the Soi along the Bang Khunthien Road, since a high volume of floodwater has begun to enter the area, causing the water level to rapidly increase.


Bang Khunthien District Assistant Director Somchai Tripittayakul said officials are currently preparing to evacuate more than 3,000 households from Bang Khunthien area, excluding alien workers from industrial factories.

Officials will be dispatched to the areas and monitor the situation closely.

In Bang Plad District, the water-level continues to decrease and is now at 20 centimeters.

Small vehicles can now pass the area. The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration, or BMA, is rushing to remedy the situation, while the Public Works Department will examine the areas in order to restore the roads and electricity.

Meanwhile, the Environmental Department and the District Office was responsible for waste management and cleaning the areas, as there were large amounts of waste in Bang Plad District, including household waste and old furniture, which residents had left at locations designated by the BMA.

All waste has been removed from the areas.

The BMA has prepared to open an integrated flood rehabilitation center in Bang Plad District by today, where flood victims can register to receive compensation.

Currently, 37 districts have been declared disaster zones.

The BMA estimates that more than 600,000 households have been affected.

In some districts, flood victims can now register to receive compensation at the centers provided.

The conditions set by the Cabinet for receiving a 5000-baht compensation for each household requires that the homes must have been affected by rapid flooding or have been flooded for more than seven days.

The documents needed to receive the compensation include an ID card and a copy of the House Registration Certificate.

However, if the documents have been destroyed by the flooding, the victims can inform the District Office for verification.

For renters, eyewitnesses are needed to prove verification of their lost documents.

The BMA will gather all documents and send them to the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department by November 21.

Thai-ASEAN News Network



Thai Airways Reduces Flight Planes due to Drop in Passengers

UPDATE : 18 November 2011

The Thai Airways International Public Company reduced the number of airplane flights after the passengers cancelled their travels during flooding.

Thai Airways International Public Company cut more than 500 domestic and international flights due to a dramatic drop in passengers who remain uncertain about the flood crisis.

In addition to flight reduction, Thai Airways will downsize its airplane in correlation with the numbers of passengers in each flight.


The company will assess the situation on a daily basis.

The company will make sure that any changes made has minimal affect on passengers and hopes the situation would return to normal in December.

The flood crisis will have an extensive impact on the company's income this year, pointing out that the company normally earns a large amount of profit during the high season period.

Thai Airways has already lost around 4.8 billion baht in the first nine months due to money exchange rate fluctuations and an increase of fuel prices.

Airport of Thailand Public Company or AOT Manging Director, Anirut Thanomkulabutra said that six international airports nationwide experienced a 9 percent drop in passenger numbers when compared to last October.

As for the Suvarnabhumi Airport, the number of passengers went down from 130,000 to 100,000, while the numbers of flight reduced by 100 from 900 to 800.