News – Page 9

Bangkok Flooding Update with Photos

October 17, 2011

6:00 p.m. Local Time

Bangkok, Thailand

This weekend I drove around areas of Bangkok flooded by the Chao Phraya River. The water had crested its banks by 1.5 meters and flooded temples, businesses, and homes located along the river. We saw work crews busy building makeshift levees with sandbags and dirt mounds at points along the road deemed most likely to withstand the flood.

As long as the river does not rise another two meters, I think the urban areas of Bangkok will be spared from large-scale flooding. The area that I toured in Nonthaburi Province is considered at higher risk than Bangkok.

Based on my own observations, I think that we are safe for now. However, if the river rises 3-5 meters more, we’ll all be in trouble. From the looks of it though, I think the floodwaters here will be minimal.

Update, 8:30 p.m. Local Time

According to a news article in the Bangkok Post, a water barrier in Pathum Thani’s Khlong Luang district about 30 kilometers to the north of Nonthaburi ruptured earlier today, flooding the area. Hold on; we’re not through this yet.

October 18, 2011

7:30 p.m. Local Time

Bangkok, Thailand

We’ve been informed that the flooding at Khlong Luang district should not affect us in Nonthaburi. For the time being, we’re safe, although Bangkok is still an island surrounded by flooded land to the north, east, and west. Let’s hope it drains to the Gulf of Thailand without more problems cropping up.

The following are photos I took over the past two days. Photos tell the story much better than I.

Bangkok Floods

October 14, 2011

7:00 p.m. Local Time

Bangkok, Thailand

You’ve probably heard about the flooding in Thailand that has left over 280 dead, millions displaced, and over six million hectares underwater. The estimated cost of the damage could run upwards of $5 billion by the time this is over. On the ground, the situation seems as serious as the media is portraying it to be, although the mood is generally upbeat. People are cautiously optimistic that the worst has passed. That, of course, is cold comfort to the million of people already affected by the flooding and the residents of eastern and western Bangkok who will soon be homeless as the excess water is siphoned through their areas. Nor does it take into account that the rains haven’t stopped yet. A thunderstorm with heavy showers just passed through the area.

As of this writing, the Bangkok suburb of Nonthaburi is still “dry.” The flooding is not as bad here as it is 45 minutes upriver in Ayutthaya. Water from the Chao Phraya River has overflowed the river’s banks about five kilometers from here and flooded the temple grounds at Wat Bangchak and neighboring Koh Kred Island. Flooding has not yet reached the city’s main thoroughfares, Chaengwatthana and Tiwanon roads. If the water breaches those fortified arterials and rises half a meter, then the flooding could spread here.

I’ve heard that water level will continue to rise through Monday, October 17. Until then, we’ll wait and see. We’ve hunkered down and made some preparations in the event that our home turns into a swimming pool. Regardless of the outcome, it will take awhile for life to get back to normal here for all of us.

Tomorrow I plan to drive around to survey the extent of the damage in the area and take photos. I will post them if I see flooding.

Politics, Paraguayan style

In case you’re wondering why life has been so crazy this year, let me recap for you politics a la Paraguay. Today’s events in the Senate spurred me to break the ice and write something about the political situation here. I’ve tried to avoid it, but it never ceases to amaze me what can happen in this country. I can neither confirm nor deny that what is written below is completely true or false, but it’s a snapshot of what has played out in the press since late last year.

A former Catholic bishop who resigned from the clergy (Fernando Lugo) ran for president of Paraguay this year against a female former education minister (Blanca Ovelar) backed by the former president (Nicanor Duarte Frutos) with a six percent approval rating, and a former general (Lino Oviedo) released from jail just before the election. (Oviedo was in imprisoned for his alleged coup attempt in 1996 and alleged involvement in the assassination of former vice president Luis Argana.) Persistent rumors fueled by the press conjecture that former president Duarte and Oviedo struck a deal to let Oviedo out of jail in exchange for dividing the opposition vote and putting Colorado presidential candidate Ovelar in office as president.

Former bishop Lugo won the presidency decisively in April of this year, ending 61 years of Colorado Party rule — the longest-lived ruling party at the time. The Pope granted Lugo a waiver (dispensation) August 12 to serve as president — an unprecedented move by the Church. Lugo was sworn in as president on August 15. Both made the headline news worldwide. August 15 was interesting, to say the least, with a slough of dignitaries ranging from Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez to Taiwanese President Ma Ying-Jeou. (Paraguay maintains diplomatic relations with the Republic of China, a.k.a. Taiwan.)

Former president Duarte won a seat in the Senate in April; however, his opponents claim that he violated the Paraguayan Constitution by running for a Senate seat while serving as president. (In Paraguay, you must resign your position before running for office. Duarte did not and continued to serve as president while running for Senator.) Duarte finally decided to resign in June, months after the election. However, opposition — now majority — members of the Senate boycotted several Senate sessions for the past three months in order to prevent Duarte from swearing in and joining the Senate.

In a surprise move, this morning Senate President Enrique Gonzalez Quintana — a member of Oviedo’s party, the National Union of Ethical Citizens (UNACE) — unilaterally swore Duarte in as Senator, contrary to Senate rules and without a quorum or vote. He claimed that he was fulfilling the mandate of the National Elections Tribunal (TSJE), which designated Duarte senator-elect in April. Members of the Senate who are opposed to Duarte’s confirmation convened an alternate Senate special session this afternoon to consider Gonzalez’ and Duarte’s fate. As of this writing, Gonzalez prevailed, and Duarte remains a Senator. We’ll see what happens over the coming days in the aftermath of this crazy day. Although today was especially momentous in Paraguayan politics, it’s not really much different than any other day.

Stay tuned tomorrow. I’m sure the action will continue.