Thai Floods

[Torurot]

Big Picture Gallery: Thailand Flood Reaches Bangkok
November 3rd, 2011

Via: Boston Globe: http://www.boston.com/bigpicture/201...s_bangkok.html

Flood waters inundating Thailand north of Bangkok since July have made the journey south and reached the capital. The disaster is responsible for 400 deaths in Thailand and neighboring Cambodia and Vietnam. Thailand is the world's biggest rice exporter, but the floods have wiped out over a quarter of the country's crop. The government has declared a five-day holiday for the capital to allow residents time to evacuate. Damages could top six billion dollars in Thailand's worst flooding in 50 years. Collected here are images of the water as it moves south to Bangkok, and how residents there are dealing with the disaster.

[Tomcat]

Seems as if SVB airport is at some risk now according to the BKK news

[Torurot]

"The manager of the Corporate Information Center for Boon Rawd Brewery Co, the parent company for Singha Corp, told the Gazette, "We have five factories in Central Thailand, and four of them are flooded. "

"One of those flooded factories is dedicated to producing Singha. That's the main reason most stores in Thailand are short of Singha beer for sale.

"We actually have factories all over Thailand. Our factory in Chiang Mai produces bottled water. The one in Surat Thani produces bottled water and soda water, and our plant in Khon Kaen produces bottled water and Leo beer," she added.

"Even though we are running out of Singha beer, we still have Leo beer for sale as our Khon Kaen facility remains unaffected by the floods.

"However, we are unable to produce any more Singha beer until the situation is back to normal," she said."

Wow!

(This one was courtesy of johnnydiver in another thread )

[Torurot]

Flood-hit HDD parts supplier resumes production
http://www.channelregister.co.uk/201.../nidec_update/
Motor maker Nidec re-opens two factories

By Paul Kunert €¢ Posted in Enterprise, 8th November 2011 17:29 GMT

Major disk drive motor supplier Nidec has resumed production at several facilities in Thailand, but continues to deal with damage to six sites that are still under water.

The component giant, which manufactures around three-quarters of the world's HDD motors, confirmed operations were back online at its Rangsit plant in Pathumthani Province and at a factory in the Ayutthaya region.
[]

"We will continue our efforts to further improve the utilisation of the factories whose operations have resumed and to bring the company's other flood stricken factories back into operation to the earliest extent possible," said Nidec in an update.

Of the supplier's remaining operations in Thailand, two factories were not impacted by the flooding and a further six remain inundated, with operations obviously suspended.

"The exact amount of damage and the effect of the floods on the company's performance are being assessed currently. We will continue to report on any actual or potential impact on the company's business performance in a prompt manner," the supplier added.

According to reports in Digi Times, Nidec is leaning more heavily on its two production sites in the Philippines, raising monthly build rates from 15 million to 25 million units. And in China, capacity is to rise by 50 per cent to 15 million units.

The disruption to the disk drive supply chain caused by the flooding is expected to result in 48 million fewer drives being made this quarter, and has already led to drive price rises in the channel and warnings that PC shortages will occur in the run up to Xmas. ®

[Tomcat]

a fellow BM who returned a few days ago he told me that most ex pat BMs are stuck in Pattaya now until an end is in site. One hopes that inner BKK will survive the high tide this friday

[TEXASMAC]

I understand the Thai are a resiliant group of people, but its now been 5 months. When Katrina hit New Orleans we Americans were robbing and killing eah other after 5 days. Strong HEARTS in Thailand.

[pacman]

(TEXASMAC @ Nov. 10 2011,14:58) When Katrina hit New Orleans we Americans were robbing and killing eah other after 5 days.

You are conveniently overlooking the fact that the Thais have never stopped robbing & killing each other. Though I admit that is an unfair slur on the majority of the population who consider themself to be good Buddhists. That does help explain their acceptance of the most trying conditions nature can throw at them.

[Tomcat]

The Irrigation Dept state that BKK will be dry in 10 days. Sounds like its improving anyway.

[TTChang]

good job betting is illegal in Thailand. I wouldnt mind 10000 baht on that 'Irrigation Dept' statement being complete Loy Krathong bullshit. Another report today says that more water is entering BKK than can be emptied from it. Take your pick

[Tomcat]

I suppose that one has to be cynical with these newslines as with most things in life these days. The BPost states BKK Dry by next week as of 5 minutes ago...

hope you can keep us informed on the situation in BKK , if you are still there .

[TTChang]

No, I'm down with the Pattaya expats!

Just reading the local press, and taking most of the 'official' versions with a large sandbag of salt.  Good job there is no 'leaking' of confidential doomsday scenarios.

At least the floods in the north are receding, so it all depends on how much water is already out to sea, and how much is sitting in Nonthaburi waiting to leak into Bangkok CBD.   Water-born Disease, food shortages, and distribution to flood victims are the main factors in next 3 weeks IMO. But dont worry, Hilary Clinton is in town next week.

[Tomcat]

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakin....nlikely

I see what you mean. BKK post now publish another story which contradicts the previous one. Obviously they just print the next news agency report without even studying it. seems like they cut and paste for the English section as it comes in from different sources so its a hotch potch or patch work of news with no expert in residence

Its certainly put a dampner on the high season .

keep us informed anyway TT when and if you move back to BKK.

[TEXASMAC]

Tomcat, I would like to make a wager on that. 1

[Tomcat]

The only thing im betting on here Tex is death and taxes  

oh well Xmas will be here soon  

[katoeylover]

For the first time in 8 years I am seriously considering NOT going at new years.

Although i am in a bit of Thailand overload, the feeling in Bangkok last week was unlike anytime before, and i cant see it getting better for a while.

But just a personal opinion.