It's now 4 days after the floods were first predicted to reach Bangkok. The waters have reached the northern parts of the city. The Bangkok Post headlines is "Scared City " and pictures the are by Kasetsart University with knee high waters. The opening lines summarise the Prime Minister as saying words to the effect of "they are at their wits end".
The Nation tells us that the floods will reach Northern Bangkok by tomorrow. It informs us that the flood-water from Klong Rangsit will enter Klong Hok Wa in the district of Sai Mai sometime tonight. This information supposed to have come from Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra. This was follwed up by his plea to the public that they do not panic.
People are deffinitley re-acting to this situation. Media is full of what has happened and very little about what to expect or do. There is the visable signs like sandbags in front of many buildings from Condo's to Banks. With no direction from any leaders people feel the need to defend and secure themselves.
We have already seen stores empty all around Bangkok. Little is left in the Big name stores or the smaller convenience shops. Stores now ask people not to take photos. We have explored all stores within our area and no one has water. For those of you who do not know already the tap water is unfit for drinking in Thailand. Milk can be found in a few places and sadly soft drinks are in good supply still. Whilst many people have access to a reverse osmosis water station the concern is now what happens when the power goes off or the machines become submerged.
It would seem to me as a resident of Bangkok one of the biggest problems is what to do. There is little to no advice given by the Government or Emergency services. The news tells us not to panic but then shows dramatic footage of area's that have flooded. Stories of house robbery from evacuated houses, people breaking down flood walls out of spite and violence against government emergency services are emerging. In my opinion this government or any other would be just as useless for this situation. Political powers here have been to worried about who gets the title and the pay rise and no one is ready for this. Spread throughout the news is squabbling between political groups over who is responsible and it seem some are happy to sit back and make other s look worse. Enlisting the army's help could mean a loss of power for the current Prime Minister whom many seem to feel is too inexperienced for this job................... these are my summaries form reading the newspapers today and driving round central Bangkok.
The Nation tells us that the floods will reach Northern Bangkok by tomorrow. It informs us that the flood-water from Klong Rangsit will enter Klong Hok Wa in the district of Sai Mai sometime tonight. This information supposed to have come from Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra. This was follwed up by his plea to the public that they do not panic.
People are deffinitley re-acting to this situation. Media is full of what has happened and very little about what to expect or do. There is the visable signs like sandbags in front of many buildings from Condo's to Banks. With no direction from any leaders people feel the need to defend and secure themselves.
 |
| Citibank Asoke central Bangkok Photo by Gabe. W |
We have already seen stores empty all around Bangkok. Little is left in the Big name stores or the smaller convenience shops. Stores now ask people not to take photos. We have explored all stores within our area and no one has water. For those of you who do not know already the tap water is unfit for drinking in Thailand. Milk can be found in a few places and sadly soft drinks are in good supply still. Whilst many people have access to a reverse osmosis water station the concern is now what happens when the power goes off or the machines become submerged.
 |
| Tops Market Suan Plu (near Silom) Photo by Gabe.W |
It would seem to me as a resident of Bangkok one of the biggest problems is what to do. There is little to no advice given by the Government or Emergency services. The news tells us not to panic but then shows dramatic footage of area's that have flooded. Stories of house robbery from evacuated houses, people breaking down flood walls out of spite and violence against government emergency services are emerging. In my opinion this government or any other would be just as useless for this situation. Political powers here have been to worried about who gets the title and the pay rise and no one is ready for this. Spread throughout the news is squabbling between political groups over who is responsible and it seem some are happy to sit back and make other s look worse. Enlisting the army's help could mean a loss of power for the current Prime Minister whom many seem to feel is too inexperienced for this job................... these are my summaries form reading the newspapers today and driving round central Bangkok.
No comments:
Post a Comment