Thai people are familiar with floods--it is a regular occurrence in these parts. Thailand is a tropical country with a monsoon season. The current flooding, triggered by the heavy rain that began in July, is the worst to hit Thailand since 1942. (NPR). More than one third of the country's provinces have been engulfed in water. Nine million people have been effected with 356 documented fatalities. Many factories, schools, and businesses have been flooded throughout the country. On Thursday, the central bank said that the damage to the industry amounted to over 100 billion baht ($3.3 billion dollars). (BBC) As the waters lap around the edges of Bangkok, a mild panic is setting in.
Yesterday, when I was in the grocery store, I saw a woman buy two whole shopping carts full of Ramen noodles. A man in another lane across from me bought twelve pink cases of Evian water. I noticed the empty shelves a few days ago while I attempted to buy a bottle of water. I visited three convenience stores--the shelves of which were cleaned out. One informed me that the next shipment would be at 7pm and that there was a list of customers who had already bought part of the shipment in advance. 7-11 has posted signs apologizing for the lack of products saying that their suppliers have been shut down or have been unable to deliver.
So where is the water? Just a few days ago I had water lapping at my ankles after I disembarked from the Maharaj Pier by the temple district. Now, as I look outside my window, my neighborhood street looks dry and parched. But I know that the flood is out there. It's a strange feeling. I don't like the waiting. I feel stressed and anxious as I scan the Internet article headlines and Richard Barrow's tweet page. My biggest frustration is the lack of clarity from Thai officials and media. They have not been providing the public with adequate information. Here is a great article in the Bangkok Post that really puts what is going on into perspective.
Just yesterday, my nerves spiked as an announcement on the radio was made saying that a sluice gate had burst and that my neighborhood, along with a few others, had been hit by a meter of floodwater. I was an hour away from my home. It turned out to be a false alarm. From what I have been reading and hearing, the authorities are really screwing up. They are unorganized and do not know what they are doing. The Prime Minister, Yingluck who has been in office for two months has been shown crying on the news. The Thai administration and officials are being heavily criticised for how they are handling the situation. All in all, it's a pretty big mess and I'm wondering who is going to have to clean it all up. One thing for sure is, the Thai population has united and have each other's backs. Volunteers head up to the flooded or soon to be flooded areas and help to build large walls of sand bags. People are collecting donations of food, water and money to help victims. Businesses with large parking decks are opening them so that people can move and park their cars on higher ground.
So, has it hit Bangkok? Yes. Yesterday it finally reached the Don Muang area, which is where the Capitol's second airport is located, as well as the government flood relief center. I've included an image taken from an article by Patipat Janthong of a train pushing through a flooded track as it approaches the Don Muang Station.
The semester break was supposed to end this Tuesday. I received a call from the principle of the elementary school informing me that the school would be closed until Nov 1st. I know a bunch of my own students are from the Don Muang area. I hope that everyone will be ok. Please pray for Thailand...we need it.
