Brace yourselves (updated Sunday)

The economic damage caused by the flood crisis worsened yesterday as Ayutthaya factories were flooded. In Bangkok, residents now fear the worst as flood waters approach the city.

Sunday update

Click button to listen to Ayutthaya floods2 and rightclick to download

Ayutthaya under water, Bangkok residents prepare

AYUTTHAYA: A makeshift embankment at a bridge leading into a major industrial estate collapsed yesterday, allowing floodwaters to surge in, causing damages that could run up to 18 billion baht.

The government is pooling water pumps from neighbouring provinces to help drain water out of Rojana Industrial Park in Uthai district.

At least five factories inside the estate had been flooded as of last night as water levels continue to rise.

The collapse occurred around 6.30pm, causing the deluge to flush into the 7,275-rai industrial estate that accommodates almost 200 factories and a few houses, said Ayutthaya deputy governor Thawi Naritsirikun yesterday.

A Honda Automobile (Thailand) factory was the first plant to be hit with overflow from Khao Mao canal following the collapse of the embankment, which was built to shield the industrial estate from being flooded.

Rescue teams were trying to drain the water in a different direction as quickly as possible, said Mr Thawi.

Elsewhere in Ayutthaya, a hospital iis submerged under about 2.2 metres of flood water and electricity to the hospital has been cut off, hospital deputy director Surachai Chokekhanchitchai said on Sunday morning.

Dr Surachai said hospital staff had to evacuate all 600 patients immediately. Sixty of them were critical patients.
  
Meanwhile, Bangkokians got into full flood preparedness mode on Saturday, as city residents started stockpiling food supplies and moving their vehicles to safe ground.

The overnight rainfall which caused flooding in some parts of the city, coupled with Friday's national address by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra admitting that the government was almost at its wits' end to deal with the nationwide flood disaster, created a climate of concern in the capital.

Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra called an emergency meeting of concerned agencies Saturday to map out evacuation plans and set up temporary shelters.

Water released from major dams in the North is expected to arrive in Bangkok next week. The most worrying time will be between Oct 16 and 18 when the northern waterflow combined with the high tide and projected heavy rainfall could cause severe flooding in the city, MR Sukhumbhand said.

"I don't want to see any deaths, so we have to be well prepared,'' he said.

Flood surveillance will focus on 27 communities situated outside the flood prevention wall on the eastern bank of the Chao Phraya River and the eastern part of Bangkok, including Min Buri, Nong Chok, Lat Krabang and Klong Sam Wa districts.

Authorities will also keep a close watch on flood-prone areas such as Vibhavadi Rangsit and Rarm Intra roads.

Adapted from three stories in today's Bangkok Post. You can read the full stories here:

Ayutthaya: http://bit.ly/qdyX2l
Bangkok http://bit.ly/nmxki8
hospital: http://bit.ly/pEoSFp

cast (a net) – to throw one end of a fishing net or line into a river, etc. ทอดแห, โยน
reclining Buddha – an image of the Buddha lying in a relaxed way พระนอน
residents – people who live in a particular area ประชาชนที่อาศัยในท้องที่
makeshift – using whatever is available and therefore not very good   สำหรับใช้ชั่วคราว, ใช้ประทังไปก่อน
embankment – a slope made of earth or stone that rises up from either side of a road, railway/railroad, river, etc. มูลดิน,ตลิ่งทาง
industrial estate – an area of land where industrial companies have their buildings นิคมอุตสาหกรรม
collapse – to fall down suddenly พังลงมา  ล้ม, พังครืน
surge – to increase very quickly เพิ่มขึ้นอย่างรวดเร็ว
pool – to collect equipment, money, information, etc. from different people of places  รวมกลุ่ม
drain – to get rid of the water in an area of land ระบายออก
level – the amount of liquid that there is in a container, river, dam, etc., which can be seen by how high the liquid is ระดับ
deluge – a sudden, very heavy rainfall or a sudden flow of a large amount of water ฝนตกหนัก น้ำปริมาณมาก
flush – (of a large amount of water) to suddenly flow through
accommodate – to provide enough space for something or someone บรรจุ, จัดที่ให้
deputy – a person whose rank is immediately below that of the leader of an organisation รอง
plant – a factory that produces power or processes chemicals, etc. โรงงาน
overflow – (of a river or body of water)  flooding the land next to it การไหลล้น
shield – to protect something ป้องกัน
rescue – saving a person or animal from a dangerous or unpleasant situation การช่วยชีวิต
submerged – under water  จมน้ำ อยู่ใต้น้ำ
evacuate – to cause to leave a place because it is not safe เคลื่อนย้ายออกจาก
immediately – happening right after something else with no delay; right away ทันที
critical (condition) – very seriously ill or injured and might die อาการหนัก
mode – a particular way of doing something; a particular type of something แบบ, วิธีการ
stockpile – to collect large amounts of things that may be needed เก็บสะสมไว้ใน
awash – covered with water จุ่มอยู่ใต้น้ำ
commuters - people who regularly travel between work and home คนเดินทางระหว่างบ้านและที่ทำงาน
intersection – a place where roads, lines, etc., join or cross each other สี่แยก
coupled with – together with; combined with and producing a particular effect  ประกอบกับ
admit – to agree that something is true, especially when you are unhappy, sorry or surprised about it  ยอมรับ
at wits’ end – to be very worried or upset because you have tried every possible way to solve a problem but cannot do it ไม่ทราบว่าจะทำอย่างไร, จนหนทาง
climate – a general attitude or feeling; an atmosphere or a situation which exists in a particular place บรรยากาศ
concern – worry ความกังวล
emergency – an unexpected situation involving danger in which immediate action is necessary เหตุฉุกเฉิน
concerned – involved in something, or affected by something ที่สัมพันธ์กับ
map out – to plan something in detail วางแผน
evacuation – moving people from a place of danger to a safer place การอพยพ
temporary – done or used for only a limited period of time, i.e., not permanent ชั่วคราว
shelter – a temporary place to stay ที่พักชั่วคราว
release – to allow a substance to flow out from somewhere ปล่อย
tide – the regular rise and fall of the level of the sea (the tides) ปรากฏการณ์น้ำขึ้นน้ำลง, กระแสน้ำขึ้นน้ำลง
projected – calculated based on information already known คาดคะเน, ประเมิน
severe – very serious and worrying ที่รุนแรง ที่น่าเป็นห่วง
surveillance – the process of carefully watching a place or person การเฝ้าตรวจตราอย่างเข้มงวด
situated – located ตั้งอยู่ที่
-prone – (suffix) likely to experience a particular problem more often than is usual ที่มีแนวโน้ม

Saturday's story

Click button to listen to Grim and rightclick to download

Flood waters bear down on capital

PM admits govt may not be able to avert disaster

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra last night told people in parts of Bangkok and elsewhere in the Central Plains to brace for severe flooding, as she admitted her government was almost at its wits' end dealing with the disaster.

Already the whole of nearby Ayutthaya province has been declared a disaster area as the deluge continues to bear down on the capital, having started in the North of the country and affecting 30 provinces so far.

In a televised address last night, Ms Yingluck spoke of the grim situation facing Bangkok and its neighbours.

She said despite concerted efforts by government agencies, she feared authorities would not be able to fully contain the incoming flood waters.

"The widespread flood problem is reaching crisis level, the worst in decades," said the premier.

She said the volume of water had exceeded estimates and the storage capacity of reservoirs and torrents have damaged a number of flood gates.

The government's priority is to speed up the diversion of flood water into the sea before the deluge – about 7,000 million cubic metres – flows down to the Central Plains from the upper North via Sukhothai, Kamphaeng Phet, Phitsanulok and Nakhon Sawan soon.

Despite the grim situation upcountry, Bangkok Governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra continues to insist the capital will escape the worst of the deluge.

He said the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) is well prepared for any possible flooding in the city.

Sanya Cheenimit, director of City Hall's Drainage and Sewerage Department, echoed the governor's assurance, saying Bangkok has eight flood drainage systems that could easily keep the downtown area flood-free.

First, the city has a 75.8km-long flood wall along the banks of the Chao Phraya River.

Bangkok also has 6,404km of drainage pipes, and there are 1,682 canals with a total length of 2,604km.

The city has 21 "monkey cheek" water retention areas, which were suggested by His Majesty the King. Those retention areas could hold up to 12.75 million cubic metres of water.

There are also seven water drainage tunnels in Bangkok with the capacity to drain 155.50 million cu m of water per second.

Furthermore, the city has 158 pumping stations to pump water out to sea, and a rain radar system which helps authorities forecast rainfall amounts and frequencies.

Finally, the city runs a highly sophisticated flood control centre with high-tech devices for rain forecasting and synchronising the meteorological information with various agencies that have also been involved in nationwide flood prevention efforts.

Not everyone in City Hall has complete faith in Bangkok's defences, however, and just to make sure the city says dry they are asking for spiritual help .

In a leaked internal memo sent to heads of the departments, City Hall's permanent secretary office yesterday invited senior officials to attend the lai nam (water dispelling) ritual at the City Pillar at 2pm today.

Adapted from three stories in today’s Bangkok Post

statues – human or animal images that are made of stone, wood, metal, etc. รูปปั้น
late – dead ที่ล่วงลับไปแล้ว
revered – highly respected and admired ซึ่งแสดงความเคารพนับถือ
surround – to be everywhere around something ล้อมรอบ
aerial – (of a photograph) from a plane ภาพถ่ายทางอากาศ
bear down on – to move quickly towards something  ลุกลามมายัง
capital – the most important town or city of a country, usually where the central government operates from  เมืองหลวง
admit – to agree that something is true, especially when you are unhappy, sorry or surprised about it  ยอมรับ
avert – to prevent something bad or harmful from happening ป้องกันไม่ให้เกิด
disaster – an extremely bad situation ความโชคร้าย
brace for – to get ready for something unpleasant เตรียมรับมือ
severe – very serious and unpleasant รุนแรง
at wit’s end – to be very worried or upset because you have tried every possible way to solve a problem but cannot do it ไม่ทราบว่าจะทำอย่างไร
deluge – a sudden, very heavy rainfall or a sudden flow of a large amount of water ฝนตกหนัก น้ำปริมาณมาก
address – a formal speech  คำปราศรัย
grim – unpleasant and making you feel upset and worried  ที่โหดร้าย
neighbour – someone who lives near you, in this case, provinces  เพื่อนบ้าน
concerted – involving a lot of people or organizations working together in a determined way ที่กระทำร่วมกัน
authorities – people who have the power to make decisions or enforce the law เจ้าหน้าที่ผู้มีอำนาจ
contain – to prevent from spreading; to keep within limits จำกัด,ควบคุมไว้
widespread – happening or existing in many places, or affecting many people อย่างแพร่หลาย
crisis – a situation that has reached and extremely difficult or dangerous point ช่วงวิกฤต
decades - periods of ten years เป็นสิบๆปี
volume – an amount of something ปริมาณ
exceed – to be more than something; to go beyond a limit  เกินกว่าที่กำหนด
estimate – an amount that you guess or calculate using the information available ประมาณการ
capacity – the total amount or number that can be contained ปริมาณสูงสุดที่จะรับได้
storage capacity – the amount of something that can be kept in a place, building, container, etc. ความจุ
reservoir – a natural or artificial lake where water is stored อ่างเก็บน้ำ
torrents – large amounts of water flowing rapidly and violently กระแสน้ำเชี่ยว,การไหลพุ่
priority – something important that needs to be done first or needs more attention than anything else สิ่งที่สำคัญที่สุดเป็นอันดับแรก
divert – to cause something to change direction เบนเส้นทางเดินน้ำ
diversion – the process of diverting
upcountry – areas outside of the Bangkok area; connected with an area of a country that is not near large towns ต่างจังหวัด, ที่อยู่ในชนบท, ที่อยู่ห่างไกลจากเมือง
insist – to keep saying very firmly that something is true ยืนกราน ยืนยัน
echo – to express the ideas or feelings that someone else has expressed  กล่าวซ้ำ
assurance – a promise; a guarantee  การรับประกัน, การรับรอง
drainage – the system of water or waste liquids flowing away from somewhere into the ground or down pipes การระบายน้ำ
retention – the act of keeping or storing something การเก็บ, การเก็บรักษา
tunnel – an underground passage อุโมงค์
forecast – a statement about what will happen in the future based on information available now พยากรณ์
frequency – the number of times something happens within a particular period ความบ่อย
sophisticated – complicated and advanced in design ที่มีการออกแบบให้ซับซ้อน
device – a machine or piece of equipment that does a particular job อุปกรณ์ เครื่องมือ
synchronise – to make something happen at the same time or to move at the same speed as something  ทำให้พร้อมกัน, ทำให้เป็นจังหวะเดียวกัน
meteorology – the scientific study of the earth's atmosphere and its changes, used especially in forecasting the weather อุตุนิยมวิทยา
faith – trust in somebody's ability or knowledge; trust that somebody/something will do what has been promised ศรัทธา
spiritual – religious, or related to religious issues เกี่ยวกับศาสนา
leak – to tell private or secret information to journalists or to the public ทำให้รู้ความลับ
memo – an official note from one person to another in the same organisation กระดาษจดบันทึก
dispel – to make something go away or disappear ทำให้หมดไป
ritual - a set of fixed actions and sometimes words performed regularly, especially as part of a ceremony พิธีกรรม
pillar – a strong column made of stone, metal or wood which supports part of a building เสาหลัก