THAILAND: Floodwaters reach the outskirts of Bangkok, submerging homes and threatening the shut-down of factories

Record ID: 863433

  • Title: THAILAND: Floodwaters reach the outskirts of Bangkok, submerging homes and threatening the shut-down of factories
  • Date: 13th October 2011
  • Summary: PATHUMTHANI, THAILAND (OCTOBER 12, 2011) (REUTERS) PEOPLE PADDLING BOAT ON FLOODED ROAD MILITARY TRUCK CARRYING EVACUEES
  • Embargoed: 28th October 2011 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Thailand, Thailand
  • City:
  • Country: Thailand
  • Topics: Disasters,Environment
  • Reuters ID: LVACUT8S22VGYJFC4A17UIYRWHL3
  • Aspect Ratio:
  • Story Text: The province of Pathum Thani on the outskirts of Bangkok saw severe flooding on Wednesday (October 12), with floodwaters submerging homes and threatening to close factories.
    Residents were seen using boats on the main road instead of cars.
    At least 281 people have been killed by heavy monsoon rain, floods and mudslides since late July and 26 of Thailand's 77 provinces are inundated, according to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.
    An unidentified Pathumthani resident said he was moving his sick wife to the south of Thailand, where the floods have not reached.
    "It has almost reached the roof, I'll move my wife to Pattalung province," said an unidentified resident.
    Strong currents burst a river bank on Tuesday (October 11), submerging homes below two metres (six feet) of water.
    "There are more and more floodwaters coming. The embankment has broken," 48-year-old resident Chatchawan Karsuwan said.
    Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra said on Wednesday the government was not declaring a state of emergency at this point as it might scare away investors and tourists.
    The government said the construction of flood barriers in three outer areas of Bangkok should be completed on Wednesday.
    Authorities have ordered the building of embankments and the use of canals to channel water away to prevent serious flooding, in preparation for rainstorms forecast for October 16 to 18.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2011. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
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