The Voice of Russia- Bangkok sinking: Floods are not only caused by rain !!

Bangkok sinking -Bangkok, the capital of Thailand and a gem of South-East Asia, is sinking due to the most serious flood in the last 50 years. Most of the city’s 50 districts are expected to be flooded in the next three days. The peak of the flood is forecast for Saturday afternoon. By that time the water level in the Chao Phraya river will exceed the critical point by 15cm. The authorities have already warned that this may be enough to burst the dams and locks. The worst scenario is that Bangkok will be completely flooded. In this case districts along the river and numerous canals may remain under 2m of water. Alexey Kokorin, an expert of the Russian branch of the World Wildlife Foundation, describes the reasons for this anomaly:

“The same situation occurred in Ireland where a monthly rate of precipitation fell on Dublin in one day. This trend can be observed on the whole planet which is caused by the growing number of extreme phenomena in the climate. Bluntly speaking, we get two downpours instead of ten little rains. When these two downpours coincide and rave for two days on end the result is floods that we can see in Thailand and Ireland. On the whole, the number of the so-called hydro-meteorological phenomena on our planet has doubled over the last 15 years. This includes almost all natural disasters except volcano eruptions and tsunami which are not associated with hydro-meteorology. Double growth is too much and this spreading tendency is alarming, because the next 15-20 years will see another double growth.”

Urgent evacuation is being carried out in Bangkok. People are dragging their belongings to hilltops and sweeping food and other essential commodities off supermarket shelves. Many entrances to shops and residential buildings are barricaded with sacks of sand and slag-concrete blocks. Roads out of the city are congested with cars moving mostly in the direction of Pattaya. Many people are running on foot past the strings of cars and trishaws, with goods and chattels on their shoulders.
While Bangkok is in panic, everything is calm in Pattaya, Ernest Novik, a Russian realtor in Thailand, told The Voice of Russia:

“The situation in Pattaya is not different from two months ago. The health resort is enjoying the sun and the sea. Most tourists know nothing about the flood. The only sign of the calamity in the north of the country is no bottled water in the shops because bottle-making factories have stopped working. The country’s main airport in Bangkok is functioning in normal conditions. All health resorts are crowded with tourists. As for Bangkok, tourists do not stay there.”

Russian tour operators are not planning to cancel any trips to Thailand so far. Meanwhile, the number of casualties in the country is approaching 400 and the number of missing people is not given. Streams of water and mountain mud torrents have washed away at least 800,000 buildings, so the number of casualties can increase. Vladimir Semyonov, an expert of the Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the Russian Academy of Sciences, gives an unfavourable forecast:

“The rainy season, which was to be over in September, is likely to continue in November. It is hard to say what comes next. All guesses can only be speculative and very uncertain. Rain will continue in December but floods are not only caused by rain. They are associated with the condition of the soil and the irrigation system, which is rivers and dams. The flood is likely to continue through November, so Thailand is not the best place for a holiday in the near future.”

The Russian Embassy, on its part, recommends Russians to think twice before visiting that country. It is recommended to avoid provinces affected by the flood, which make up almost half of the country’s territory. There is no information about casualties among Russian businessmen, journalists or tourists. The Russian Embassy keeps in touch with the authorities and police of Thailand so as to receive timely information about the developments in the situation and possible casualties among Russians.
http://english.ruvr.ru/2011/10/27/59445788.html

In 2 consecutive days over the "umbilical flooding" on the city suffered storm surges rise abnormally. Thousands of Saigon in a frantic sea phen.
Recorded at Luong Dinh Cua (An Khanh Ward, District 2) on 10/27 at 17h pm, rising tides caused heavy flooding both routes. There the water level rise of 1m. During nearly 1km long distances on Luong Dinh means hundreds of stalls, the road to push the wading.

Local people said that in two days, the area has suffered three waves of unusually high tides rise. The time of rising tides is also true at peak hours, dedicated workers and students out of the circulation which travel very difficult.

Many students are quite small still need to pump the water to find their way home. Some other parents to pick up but also to push the bike.
An Khanh Market Area also had severe, the water level rise of about 60cm which the sale of small business where stagnant. Besides, households living both sides of this road was flooding the house, many people are prepared to prevent the dam from the front, but due to storm surges are the highest ever so still rushing water overflow into the house.

According to locals, the water level rise due to surges in the afternoon 10/27 than 2 storm surges a day earlier. Consecutive cars slope Thu Thiem Bridge to the streets of Luong Dinh is working on "River Street" with the same scene the amphibious vehicle speed.

During the afternoon rise in intensity this afternoon appeared more motorbike repair team working. The blow ri bu, push the car ... are more preferred. Out of this car to other cars pull into. From scooters to high levels of commercial vehicles often are not the "frontier" with the tide "flooded cord" to 1m deep.
Foreseeing the rising tides caused heavy flooding in the days and may be prolonged, a sales team slippers pipe appeared. Wooden table to right side of the road is filled with all kinds of shoes to cater for those in need "boots on the vehicle suspension."

The rising tide is not just happening in District 2 that area at the Phan Dinh Phung Street Ward 2 and Ward 17, Phu Nhuan district also fall into the same situation. There the water was up to half a meter and smelled foul. At least, two hydrophilic vehicle has been dispatched to the area of ​​emergency in order to "prevent flooding."
By 19 pm the same day, the traffic crossing at the tide line was "covered" in the country is still reeling.
Add some photos PV recorded scenes of people in the country reeling from tide-way 10/27:
http://www.khoahoc.com.vn/doisong/moi-truong/tham-hoa/35837_Trieu-c...


The evening of 10/26, due to the high tide, many roads were heavy flooded in Saigon. There are nearly half a meter where the water level causing traffic stalls, traffic chaos. Despite the warning, but at 26.10 pm, people still surprise with natural phenomena occurring during melting range. Rising tide, making many roads submerged in water. At Phan Dinh Phung street, to the foot of the bridge Kieu Huynh Van Banh (Phu Nhuan) were turned into rivers. Many pumps have to wade through a long way to go home. In many cases that fall by the "fall" into the pit under construction and the construction of deep water. A series of car breaks have led the country into the muffler. Also, due to the tides, many other avenues such as Ngo Tat To, Nguyen Huu Canh, Bui Huu Nghia, Xo Viet Nghe Tinh (Binh Thanh District), Highway 13, Road Kha Van Can (Thu Duc district) .. . also flooded.

To nearly 19 pm, many roads are still flooded condition is not severe storm surges caused people to draw a hard time returning home.
According to the Meteorological Station South region, on 27/10, high tides will reach the highest peak at 5.30 and 1.54 m 1.5 m at 16.30. On 28/10, the top court to maintain the 1.52 to 1.54 m at 16h and 17h30. If combined with rain, Saigon risk will also be more severe flooding.
Steering Committee for Flood and rescue the city has a written emergency request the district People's Committee, Binh Thanh, Go Vap, 12, Thu Duc, Binh Chanh, Cu Chi, Hoc Mon District shall review the position of importance. At the same time, these localities are required to prepare resources and materials (cajuput, bamboo stick, sacks of sand ...) in the prone position the overflow tanks embankments to handle it immediately after is the problem.

In addition, the Steering Committee also encouraged people in the area should be elevated over furniture, preventing overflow into the rising tide.

http://www.khoahoc.com.vn/doisong/moi-truong/tham-hoa/35806_Nhieu-tuyen-duong-Sai-Gon-ngap-nang-do-trieu-cuong.aspx

Chiều tối 26/10, do ảnh hưởng của triều cường lên cao, nhiều tuyến đường tại Sài Gòn bị ngập nặng. Có nơi nước dâng gần nửa mét khiến xe cộ bị chết máy, giao thông hỗn loạn.Dù đã được cảnh báo nhưng chiều tối 26/10, người dân vẫn khá bất ngờ với hiện tượng tự nhiên xảy ra trong giờ tan tầm. Triều cường dâng cao khiến nhiều tuyến đường chìm ngập trong nước. Tại đường Phan Đình Phùng, đoạn dưới chân cầu Kiệu đến đường Huỳnh Văn Bánh (quận Phú Nhuận) bị biến thành sông. Nhiều người phải lội bì bõm suốt một đoạn đường dài để về nhà. Trong đó khá nhiều trường hợp bị té do "lọt" vào hố công trình đang thi công và những chỗ nước sâu. Hàng loạt xe chết máy phải dắt bộ do nước vào ống bô. Một người đàn ông mặt nhễ nhại mồ hôi đẩy chiếc xe chết máy chở đứa con học lớp 5, thở hổn hển bảo: "Hôm nay không có giọt mưa nào mà còn ngập sâu thế này, nếu có mưa to thì không biết đến đâu". "Thấy đoạn đường ngập thế này tôi đã định quay lại đi đường khác nhưng cứ nghĩ nước không sâu lắm nên cố chạy qua. Ai ngờ bị ngã đau điếng vì chạy vào chỗ nước bị ngập sâu", chị Lài (nhà ở Bình Thạnh) kể. Đường Lương Định Của (quận 2) bị ngập sâu nhất. Có đoạn ngập đến gần nửa mét do cống thoát nước xây dựng chưa xong, nước không thể thoát được. Chợ An Khánh tại đây bị "cô lập", xung quanh mênh mông nước, nhiều sạp hàng không thể buôn bán vì ngập sâu. Nhiều hộ dân sống trong khu vực bị nước tràn cả vào nhà. Đồ đạc cũng bị ướt do không kịp kê lên cao.Cũng do ảnh hưởng của triều cường, nhiều con đường khác như Ngô Tất Tố, Nguyễn Hữu Cảnh, Bùi Hữu Nghĩa, Xô Viết Nghệ Tĩnh (quận Bình Thạnh), quốc lộ 13, đường Kha Vạn Cân (quận Thủ Đức)... cũng chìm trong nước.Đến gần 19h, nhiều tuyến đường vẫn còn tình trạng ngập nặng vì triều cường chưa rút khiến người dân rất khó khăn mới về đến nhà.Theo Đài khí tượng thủy văn khu vực Nam Bộ, ngày mai 27/10, triều cường sẽ đạt đỉnh cao nhất 1,54 m lúc 5h30 và 1,5 m lúc 16h30. Ngày 28/10, đỉnh triều tiếp tục duy trì mức 1,52-1,54 m vào lúc 16h và 17h30. Nếu kết hợp với trời mưa, Sài Gòn nguy cơ sẽ còn bị ngập nặng hơn nữa.Ban chỉ đạo phòng chống lụt bão và tìm kiếm cứu nạn thành phố đã có công văn khẩn đề nghị UBND các quận, huyện Bình Thạnh, Gò Vấp, 12, Thủ Đức, Bình Chánh, Củ Chi, Hóc Môn tổ chức rà soát các vị trí xung yếu. Đồng thời những địa phương này được yêu cầu chuẩn bị lực lượng, vật tư (cừ tràm, phên tre, bao tải cát...) tại những vị trí có nguy cơ xảy ra tràn, bể bờ bao để xử lý ngay khi phát hiện sự cố. Ngoài ra, Ban chỉ đạo cũng khuyến cáo người dân trong những khu vực trên nên kê cao đồ đạc, đề phòng triều dâng cao tràn vào nhà.