Hola foroFOS,
He recibido este comunicado de la situación en Tailandia, ya que en breve tengo previsto viajar a este país, espero que os sirva de ayuda:
Communications response:
Flooding in Thailand
Updated 03 November 2010 at 17.00 hrs.
Statement
Thailand is undergoing floods in two areas of the country: the Northeast and Central provinces and the Southern provinces.
Northeast and Central provinces:
The flooding that has been taking place in Thailand’s Northeast and Central regions since mid-October is subsiding. Tourist destinations in the affected areas are reopening as the situation returns to normal. Major ground transportation links have been restored. The flooding is now mainly affecting provinces in the Central region in low-lying agricultural land and areas near major waterways such as the Chao Phraya River. Most parts of Bangkok have not been affected by the flooding other than suburban areas adjacent to the Chao Phraya River.
Southern provinces:
Heavy rains resulting from a tropical depression moving across the south of Thailand has caused flooding in several Southern provinces. The tropical depression has been in the area since Monday, 01 November and is expected to move out over the Andaman Sea within the next two to three days.
The heavy rains resulted in localized flooding in provinces including Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phatthalung, Songkhla and Surat Thani. Provinces on the Andaman coast including Krabi, Phang Nga, Phuket and Trang are experiencing heavy rain and minor flooding.
Some southern highways have been closed and passenger train services suspended due to the flooding. Airports are operating normally except for Samui Island, which is operating intermittently as weather conditions permit. Small craft warnings are in effect due to rough water conditions both in the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea, resulting in cancellation of certain ferry and passenger boat services.
The city of Hat Yai has experienced considerable flooding. Hat Yai Airport remains operational. Authorities are assisting residents and tourists in Hat Yai who have been stranded by flood waters. The flood waters in Hat Yai are expected to subside within the next two to three days.
Other tourist destinations within Thailand outside of these areas have not been affected by the floods. Other transportation links within Thailand are operating normally, as is Suvarnabhumi Airport. Tourists are advised to get prior information if they plan to travel to the provinces that have been affected by the flooding.
Q&As
1. Is it safe to come to Thailand with all of the floods that are taking place?
• Yes, as the flooding in Thailand’s Northeast and Central regions has been mainly in low-lying agricultural land and areas near major waterways such as the Chao Phraya River
• The flood waters in Thailand’s Northeast and Central regions have largely subsided and the situation is returning to normal
• The flooding in the southern provinces is due to a tropical depression that is expected to leave the area within the next two days
• Tourist destinations elsewhere in Thailand have not been affected by the floods.
2. Is there still a chance that Bangkok will be flooded? Is it safe to visit the city?
• The rainy season happens annually in Thailand, so the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMS) has comprehensive flood control measures in place that are enabling it to manage the situation
• While some localized flooding is occurring in suburban communities adjacent to the Chao Phraya River, most of Bangkok has not been affected by the flood
• The situation in almost all of Bangkok is normal so tourists can have an enjoyable visit to the city.
3. What about Suvarnabhumi Airport – is there a chance it may be closed down by flooding?
• The airport is more than 20 Km away from the Chao Phraya River and has not been affected by the floods
4. I have seen reports that highways and railways have been closed by floods. Won’t this make it a problem for tourists to get around?
• Major ground transportation links in Thailand’s Northeast and Central regions have been restored
• Some major highways in Songkhla province have been temporarily closed, as well as rail services to the southernmost provinces
• Domestic air travel has not been affected by the floods other than the periodic closure of Samui Airport due to weather conditions.
5. Why would anybody want to visit Thailand right now, with all the rain and flooding? Isn’t it better to wait and come later?
• The rainy season is an annual occurrence
• The flood water is receding in the Northeast and has passed through the Greater Bangkok area
• While some localized flooding is occurring in suburban communities adjacent to the Chao Phraya River, most of Bangkok has not been affected by the flood
• The flooding in the southern provinces is caused by heavy rains due to a tropical depression that is expected to leave the area within the next two days
• Tourist destinations elsewhere within Thailand have not been affected by the floods and are enjoying good weather.
6. Is the flooding worse this year than in other years? I haven’t heard about major floods in Thailand before.
• The rains have been heavier than normal this year, which has caused the flooding of low-lying agricultural land and areas near major waterways such as the Chao Phraya River
• The flooding in the southern provinces is caused by a tropical depression that is expected to move away from Thailand within the next two to three days.
7. Why is it taking so long for the flood water to disappear from the Northeast?
• Northeast Thailand is a large, flat plateau mainly comprised of agricultural land
• Given its relative flatness, considerable time is required for water to drain from the area, and the Royal Irrigation Department is also managing the drainage process to minimize downstream flooding
• The flood waters in the Northeast are expected to subside fully within the next few days.
8. Why is the flooding in the Northeast affecting parts of Central Thailand and Bangkok?
• The watershed of the Chao Phraya River, which passes through the plains of central Thailand and Bangkok, is large and includes tributaries originating from the north and northeast
• Thailand’s rainy season is an annual event, so the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority has comprehensive flood control measures in place that are enabling it to manage the situation
• The rains have been heavier than normal this year, which has caused the flooding of low-lying agricultural land and areas adjacent to major waterways such as the Chao Phraya River.
9. How has the flooding affected tourist destinations in Thailand’s central and northeastern provinces?
• Ayutthaya province: The ancient capital, a UNESCO site and major tourist attraction, has not yet been affected by the flooding and is being protected by flood measures
• Nakhon Nayok province: Officials are monitoring other waterways including Nang Rong Waterfall, Sarika Waterfall and Wang Ta Krai Park as well as throughout Khao Yai National Park
• Nakhon Ratchasima province: Phimai National Historical Park and National Museum, Huay Narok Waterfall, and the Lum Phuk Chee natural trekking route in the Khao Yai National Park operate normally
10. Have any tourist destinations in the south been closed due to flooding?
• Some parks have been closed and ferry services to islands have been suspended due to the weather conditions, but will reopen once these conditions improve
• Hat Yai has experienced considerable flooding, but the flood waters are expected to subside within the next two to three days.
11. How long will it take the flooding in the south of Thailand to clear?
• The flooding in the southern provinces is caused by a tropical depression that is expected to leave the area within the next two days
• Flooding in the south is localized and the flood waters are expected to subside rapidly once the tropical depression leaves the area within the next two days.
12. With so much of Hat Yai under water, should long should I avoid visiting the city?
• The flood waters in Hat Yai are expected to subside within the next two to three days
• The TAT will work with national and local government authorities to ensure Hat Yai is ready for visitors within the next few weeks
• People who want to visit Hat Yai should contact to the government contact center hotline 1111 or the TAT tourist assistance line 1672 or
www.tatnews.org to get an update on conditions in the area.
13. Have popular tourist destinations on the Andaman Sea such as Phuket and Krabi been flooded?
• While they have experienced heavy rains, popular tourist destinations on the Andaman Sea such as Phuket and Krabi have only experienced minor flooding.
14. What tourist destinations in Thailand are not affected by the floods and are okay to visit?
• Bangkok, other than suburban areas along the Chao Phraya River, has not been affected by the flooding
• Provinces in the North such as Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai have not been affected by the flooding
• Tourist destinations in the Southern provinces such as Krabi, Phuket and Phang Na have experienced heavy rains but no flooding
15. Has the flooding cause any fatalities, and are any of the victims tourists?
• The floods have caused the death of around over 100 local people according to the Emergency Medical Institute of Thailand at the Ministry of Public Health
16. What is the situation on Samui Island and when should I consider to go there?
• Samui Island is being affected by the tropical depression that is expected to move away from Thailand within the next two to three days
• While there have been disruptions to air and water access to the island, they are temporary closed as they are caused by weather conditions.
• Things will be back to normal for visitors to Samui Island once the tropical depression leaves the area within the next two to three days.
17. I heard that a lot of foreign tourists were stranded on an island due to the weather – what happened?
• About 100 foreign tourists were stranded on Angthong Island in Surat Thani province on Tuesday due to strong winds and high waves that resulted in boat services being suspended
• These tourists were not in any danger and have been transported off of the island.
18. Is the flooding in the south a result of the earlier floods in the north?
• No, the provinces in the Northeast and the South of Thailand are about 1,000 km apart
• The flooding in the Northeast and Central provinces are the result of a weather system that passed through in mid-October, while the flooding in the South of Thailand is the result of a tropical depression currently passing through the area.
Useful Contact Numbers
TAT Call Centre
Operating hours: 8.00-21.00 hrs 1672
Bangkok Airways Call Centre
Web site:
www.bangkokair.com
1771
+66 (0) 2270 6699
Thai Airways International (THAI)
Contact Centre
Web site:
www.thaiairways.co.th/index_en.html
+66 (0) 2356-1111
Suvarnabhumi Airport +66 (0) 2132-1888
State Railway of Thailand Hotline for
Information on routes and train services 1690
The Highways Department
24-hour hotline 1586
Highways Police 1193
For the latest updates, please visit
www.TATnews.org
Siento que sea un documento algo largo, salu2