Residents Of Seven Bangkok Districts Get Flood Warning
BY LINE : THE NATION
WED, SEPTEMBER 14, 2022
The Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) On Wednesday Warned Residents Of Seven Bangkok Districts To Brace For Possible Flash Floods Or A Worsening Flood Situation From Rains Expected In The Afternoon.
The seven are Bang Sue, Chatuchak, Phayathai, Din Daeng, Huay Kwang, Dusit and Phra Nakhon districts.
They could be hit by light to middle-level rains from 3pm to 9pm, the BMA warned.
On Wednesday morning, the Meteorological Department forecast that heavy rains would fall in the next 24 hours in the North, the Central region including Bangkok and suburban areas, the East and the South.
The department advised people living on the banks of canals and rivers to brace for possible water overflows.
Army Sergeant Allegedly Kills Two Colleagues, Injures Another
BY LINE : THE NATION
WED, SEPTEMBER 14, 2022
An Army Sergeant Allegedly Went On A Shooting Spree Inside The Royal Thai Army War College On Wednesday Morning, Killing Two Colleagues And Injuring Another.
Royal Thai Army deputy spokeswoman Colonel Sirichan Ngathong identified the attacker as Sgt-Major 1st Class Yongyuth Mungkornki, 59.
Yongyuth, a clerk of the Army college, walked into his office carrying his pistol and allegedly shot his colleagues.
The two dead victims were identified as Sgt-Major 1st Class Nopparat Inthornsunthorn, a clerk at the college, and Sgt-Major 1st Class Prakarn Sinsong, another clerk.
Sgt-Major 1st Class Yongyuth Panyanuwat, who was injured, was rushed to Phramongkutklao Hospital.
The spokeswoman said the incident happened at 8.45am.
Some TV reports said the attacker was heard shouting that he would kill up to ten.
After the shooting, Yongyuth ran out of the building but was arrested by police and military police in front of the college. He was handed over to police.
The Army is investigating the motive behind the shooting, Sirichan said.
Yongyuth’s superior told the college that he could have been under severe tension because of chronic health problems.
Sirichan said the Royal Thai Army was sorry about the deaths and injury and it would take care of medical expenses of the injured officer and handle the funeral rites for the dead officers.
She said the Army, while fully cooperating with police, would review safety measures inside its offices.
‘Know Indonesia Better’ At Indonesia Fair, Siam Paragon
BY LINE : THE NATION
WED, SEPTEMBER 14, 2022
The Embassy Of The Republic Of Indonesia In Bangkok In Collaboration With Siam Piwat, A Leading Property And Retail Developer – The Owner And Operator Of Global Destinations Including Siam Paragon, Siam Center, Siam Discovery And A Joint Venture Partner Of ICONSIAM And Siam Premium Outlets Bangkok, Will Host “Know Indonesia Better – Indonesia Fair” As Part Of Indonesia Trade, Tourism, Investment And Culture Forum (TTICF).
It aims to promote Indonesia’s trade, investment and tourism potentials and opportunities as well as Indonesia’s rich and unique culture.
Themed “Know Indonesia Better”, the Indonesia Fair will be held on September 16-18 at the Fashion Hall, 1st floor of Siam Paragon, Bangkok. It will showcase various Indonesian premium products such as Batik clothing and textiles, woven clothing and textiles, craft and household products, Indonesian culinary delights and travel packages. Those who are interested in knowing more about Indonesia can visit the fair and enjoy an engaging and exciting experience through the Indonesian cultural performances.
The TTICF is not only an Indonesian promotional forum, but is also a forum that serves further in increasing good understanding among peoples of two countries and enhancing people-to-people contact. It is also believed to help strengthen and deepen the existing bilateral relations for the mutual benefit of two countries. The series of TTICF events have taken place in several different locations in Bangkok. For more information, please visit Facebook: IndonesiaInBangkok and Instragram: @indonesiainbangkok.
MEA Offers To Move Electrical Meters For Free In Flood-Prone Areas
BY LINE : THE NATION
WED, SEPTEMBER 14, 2022
The Metropolitan Electricity Authority (MEA) Is Offering A Free Service To Move Electrical Meters To Higher Ground For Households In Flood-Prone Areas In Bangkok, Nonthaburi And Samut Prakan.
MEA director of Corporate Communications Jumpote Himacharoen said on Tuesday that electricity users should survey their meters, outlets and appliances during the rainy season.
“Please make sure they are in good condition and safe from flood water that could rise unexpectedly due to continuous heavy rains, especially for residences located near the banks of the Chao Phraya River or in lower basins,” he advised.
“Contact MEA Call Centre 1130 and we will come move the meters for free.”
The MEA has dispatched technicians to check all electrical meters on power poles in metropolitan areas to make sure they are working properly and are safe from flood, Jumpote said.
The MEA also has officers on standby around the clock to provide emergency services in case of blackout or electrical malfunctions at key locations such as water drainage facilities, drainage tunnels and underground walkways, he said.
Jumpote urged people to trim the branches of large trees at their houses so they do not touch or grow in close proximity to power lines, as the tree branches can move due to heavy rains and wind and cause the lines to break, resulting in a power blackout.
He also called on owners of billboards to check the structural integrity of the billboards and make sure the foundation is secure so it can withstand strong winds.
“Please follow the latest updates on weather and the flood situation from related authorities and make sure to prepare accordingly,” he added.
To report electrical malfunctions, damaged or unsafe power lines, or to request a meter moving service, contact MEA Call Centre 1130, Facebook: @Metropolitan.Electricity.Authority, Twitter: @MEA_news, Line: MEA Connect, or download the MEA Smart Life mobile app, available for both Android and iOS users at http://onelink.to/measmartlife.
Chutinant Bhirombhakdi, President And Chief Executive Officer Of Thailand’s Food And Beverage Conglomerate Boonrawd Brewery, Passed Away In Hospital In Boston, The United States, On Tuesday At Around 11am (Thailand Time). He Was 65.
Chutinant was reportedly seeking medical treatment for an undisclosed illness.
He is survived by his wife, Khunying Piyapat, and their three children, Chitpas Kridakorn, Nantaya Bhirombhakdi and Lieutenant Naiyanobh Bhirombhakdi. Ms Chitpas is a Democrat Party MP.
Born on April 9, 1957, Chutinant was of the Bhirompakdi’s family third generation to run Thailand’s over-80-year-old brewery, that expanded into foods and beverages.
He graduated from Boston and Harvard universities with degrees in economics and business management, respectively. He served as president and CEO of Boonrawd Brewery as well as chairman of the board of directors at Singha Estate and also held other high-level executive positions.
Chutinant was also the president of the Paralympic Committee of Thailand.
Many important figures in sport mourned his death via social media on Tuesday, including Maj-General Intarat Yodbangtoey, honorary president of the Thai Amateur Weightlifting Association and president of the Federation of National Sports Associations.
Constitutional Court Meets Today Over Prayut Tenure Case
BY LINE : THE NATION
WED, SEPTEMBER 14, 2022
All Eyes Are On The Constitutional Court On Wednesday At 10am As Judges Begin Deliberating On Whether Suspended Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha Has Exceeded His 8-Year Term Limit.
The court is expected to announce that it has enough evidence to make a decision on Prayut’s tenure in the next 15 days, the timeline for a ruling in such cases.
The case stems from a petition lodged by the opposition, which asked the court to rule on whether Prayut’s eight-year term ended on August 24.
Section 158 of the 2017 Constitution bars any individual from being premier in excess of eight years, regardless of whether or not the four-year terms are served back-to-back.
Prayut assumed office on August 24, 2014, following the military coup he led in May that year. However, he argues that his eight-year term as premier should be counted from April 6, 2017, when the current Constitution was promulgated.
A news source said that should the court announce it does not yet have enough evidence to make a decision, they could demand additional witnesses or order related agencies or personnel to submit more evidence.
The source also said security measures are being tightened at the Ratchaburi Direkrit Building in Bangkok’s Lak Si district, where the meeting will take place. Unauthorised personnel have been barred from entering the building, while all members of the press need to exchange their media ID for official passes.
Store, Transport Operators Say Shops Still Well Stocked Despite Flood Crisis
BY LINE : THE NATION
TUE, SEPTEMBER 13, 2022
The Government Has Urged Wholesalers And Convenience Stores To Ensure They Are Well Stocked With Necessities To Cope With Flooding In Bangkok And Other Provinces.
Chakra Yodmani, director-general of the Internal Trade Department, held talks with wholesalers, store operators, and logistics industry representatives on Monday.
He said the meeting was called to follow up on earlier efforts to ensure shops had stocked enough necessities for residents in flood-hit areas.
Commerce Minister Jurin Laksanawisit has ordered the department to ensure flood victims have enough rice, dried and canned foods, drinking water, and washing and cleaning products, Chakra said.
Shop and wholesale operators at Monday’s meeting confirmed they had increased stockpiles of the targeted necessities, he added. They also assured him that goods transport was running efficiently so there was no shortage of goods in shops.
Representatives of the Thai Transportation & Logistics Association confirmed that distribution of goods nationwide had not been disrupted by the floods.
Chakra instructed them to monitor the flood situation closely and prepare contingency plans in case it worsened.
He said his department had also urged department stores and superstores to run sales promotions for necessities, consumer goods and construction materials to help reduce people’s financial burden during the floods.
New US Ambassador Tucks Into Street Food On First Tour Of Bangkok
BY LINE : THE NATION
TUE, SEPTEMBER 13, 2022
Incoming US Ambassador To Thailand Bob Godec Spent His First Weekend In The Country Visiting Cultural Landmarks Around Bangkok, The US Embassy Said On Tuesday.
Godec started at the iconic Wat Phra Kaew or Temple of the Emerald Buddha in Phra Nakhon district. He then strolled up Maharat Road in the company of Radtasiri “Bes” Wachirapunyanont, an alumnus of the Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative (YSEALI) who works on energy and water issues.
He then took the ferry across the Chao Phraya River to visit Wat Arun, the Temple of Dawn, where he was welcomed by the abbot, Phra Brahmavajaramethee.
No tour of Bangkok would be complete without the world-famous street food, and the new ambassador indulged at a noodle shop on Soi Polo.
He ended his day by offering incense, candles, flowers and water at the Erawan Shrine in Pathum Wan. This fulfilled a wish he made at the shrine a few years ago to return to Thailand.
Godec arrived in Thailand last Wednesday (September 7) to replace his predecessor Michael Heath, who had served as Charge d’Affaires from January 2021 to August this year.
Six High-Powered Pumps Deployed To Drain Bangkok Flood
BY LINE : THE NATION
TUE, SEPTEMBER 13, 2022
Six High-Capacity Water Pumps Were Being Sent From Other Areas To Battle Floods In Eastern Bangkok On Tuesday, The Natural Resources And Environment Minister Said.
The six pumps were redeployed to Bangkok by the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry after a request from Bangkok Governor Chadchart Sittipunt on Monday.
Five of the 30-inch-diameter pumps were being installed on Tuesday afternoon, four at the Phra Khanong pumping station and one in the Srinakharin-Bang Na area, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Varawut Silpa-archa said.
The five pumps will begin draining water on Wednesday.
The sixth pump was being transported to Bangkok, he added.
Varawut said the six pumps were loaned from regional offices and could drain floodwaters quickly when all operating together.
Last week, Chadchart was attacked by critics including losing governor candidate Suchatvee Suwansawat, who accused him of doing too little to prepare Bangkok’s flood defences ahead of heavy rain.
The capital has been hit by heavy downpours since Wednesday, leaving many parts of the city flooded, especially areas along canals.
Suchatvee said Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA)’s failure to reduce the water level in Klong Prawet ahead of downpours had caused floods in his home district of Lat Krabang. The BMA should have sped up water pumping at the Phra Khanong station, he added.
Chadchart’s supporters cited his Facebook broadcasts from flooded areas as evidence the governor was working hard. On Monday evening, the governor appeared on Facebook Live leading a team of drainage chiefs to Phra Khanong pumping station.
The chiefs said the BMA Sewerage and Drainage Department was at full capacity but Bangkok had been hit by a series of downpours dumping over 100mm of rain.
Chadchart said during the broadcast that water pumps at Phra Khanong were too old to handle the situation but he was addressing the problem.
On Tuesday, Varawut said his ministry was coordinating with the BMA on several fronts to tackle the flooding.
The minister said he had set up a committee of officials from several ministry departments to coordinate with the BMA in tackling floods, pollution and garbage issues.
Varawut said he and Chadchart would discuss options for dealing with floodwater from upstream provinces. However, he dismissed any possibility that Bangkok could suffer flooding on the scale of the 2011 disaster. The 2011 disaster was caused by massive floodwaters from upstream provinces while the current floods came from heavy downpours, he explained.
Sai Mai Condo Management Must Cover Flood Damages, Says Top Lawyer
BY LINE : THE NATION
TUE, SEPTEMBER 13, 2022
A Well-Known Bangkok Lawyer Said That The Company Managing The Condominium Will Have To Compensate Residents Whose Cars Were Damaged When The Underground Carpark Was Flooded.
Lawyer Kerdphol Kaewkerd cited a Supreme Court ruling in a similar lawsuit and the Condominium Act to support his Facebook comment on Monday.
He had made this comment in reference to the dispute between the owners of damaged cars and the company hired to manage the condominium in Sai Mai district.
The building’s underground carpark was flooded on Sunday, with several cars covered to the top in water.
After the flood subsided, the owners refused to remove their vehicles until the condo management agreed to compensate them for damages.
Kerdphol said the second paragraph of the Condominium Act’s Article 33 stipulates that the juristic entity has the responsibility to take care of the condo’s common property.
He said the carpark is common property and if the management knew the area was prone to flooding, then it was being negligent by not installing enough water pumps or taking steps to prevent flooding. Hence, he said, the management should be held liable for all damage sustained by the cars.
Kerdphol cited the Supreme Court’s ruling No 4493/2543 to back his comment. In this ruling, the company hired to manage a condo was ordered to compensate the owner of a unit after a pipe channelling rainwater overflowed and flooded the room.
He said the management was held responsible for the damage because it had failed to ensure the pipe worked properly.