Major floods occurred during the 2011 monsoon season in Thailand. Provinces perfectly located at the Chao Phraya and Mekong River basin, including Bangkok and sourrounding neighborhoods were most severely affected directly or indirectly by inundation. Flooding also affected most provinces in Thailand's south. Flooding began around July 2011, and continued into December 2011. Over 12.8 million individuals were affected, as well as the World Bank estimated damages reached 1,440 billion baht (45 billion USD) since December, 2011. By December 3rd, 2011 some areas still remained under approximately 6 feet underwater and several factory areas remained closed.
The World Bank's estimate with this disaster means it ranks since the world's fourth costliest disaster by 2011 surpassed only by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami in Japan, 1995 Kobe earthquake, Hurricane Katrina in 2005.
The flooding inundated about 6 000 0000 hectares of land, over 300,000 hectares ones is farmland, in 58 provinces, from Chiang Mai in the North to elements of the capital town of Bangkok nearby the mouth in the Chao Phraya. It has been described as "the worst flooding yet with regards to the quantity of water and individuals affected". Seven major industrial estates were inundated by as much 3 meters.
Using the monsoon season well underway this year, with noticeable rainfalls started from May, major flooding began as Tropical Storm Nock-ten made landfall in Northern Vietnam, causing heavy precipitation in Northern and Northeastern Thailand and flash flooding in many provinces beginning 31 July.[8][9] Within one week thirteen have been reported dead, with ongoing flooding within the provinces of Chiang Mai, Lampang, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Nan, Phrae, and Uttaradit in the North, and Bung Kan, Nakhon Phanom, Nong Khai, Sakon Nakhon and Udon Thani inside upper Northeast. The upper-central provinces of Phichit, Phitsanulok, Sukhothai were also flooded because flooding spread around the overflowing Yom and Nan Rivers. Prachuap Khiri Khan on the gulf coast has also been affected.
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Flooding was still ongoing by late August, as heavy rains were likely to continue more usual because of the effect of los angeles Niña. Floodwaters reached 50 cm in downtown Nan and already became the highest recorded in 16 years in Phitsanulok Province, while large areas within the downstream provinces of Nakhon Sawan, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya and Nakhon Nayok were being increasingly affected along with the death toll continued to go up to 37 by 22 August. The Bhumibol and Sirikit Dams were increasing discharge rates to compensate for incoming flow.
By 19 September nearly all lower central provinces were being affected by flood, i.e. Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Suphan Buri, Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani and Nonthaburi, the past a couple of which sit on the northern border of Bangkok.[13] Broken floodgates triggered water from the Chao Phraya flowing through irrigation canals and inundating large aspects of paddy fields in Singburi, Ang Thong and Ayutthaya, but lessening the strain on Bangkok as the fields served as water retention areas.[14] Boats were employed to run from the river flow while anchored to try to improve the river's discharge rate.
Satellite photographs showing flooding in Ayutthaya and Pathum Thani Provinces in October (right), when compared with before the flooding in July (left)
With the beginning of October, most dams were already near- or over-capacity and being forced to grow their rates of discharge, potentially worsening downstream flooding.[16] Flooding in Ayutthaya worsened as flood water entered the location proper, inundating the Ayutthaya Historical Park and forcing evacuations. Barriers protecting industrial estates failed, leading to flooding of a large number of major factories and country-wide disruption of manufacturing supply chains. In Nakhon Sawan, the sandbag barrier protecting the town was breached, resulting in rapid flooding from the city. Hundreds of patients must be transferred away from Ayutthaya and Nakhon Sawan Regional Hospitals by boat as water levels rose over the hospital floors and power supplies and life support systems were disrupted.[citation needed]
As floodwaters drained southwards from Ayutthaya, Bangkok was becoming seriously threatened by mid-October. In Pathum Thani Province bordering Bangkok on the north, continuous efforts to bolster and repair sandbag flood walls were undertaken to stop the Chao Phraya and Rangsit Canals from overflowing into Bangkok. Several districts in eastern Bangkok which lie outside Bangkok's flood wall, as well as elements of the surrounding Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani, Chachoengsao and Nakhon Pathom Provinces, became flooded as water was diverted from your Chao Phraya to the Nakhon Nayok River and outlying canals.[citation needed]
The 2-metre-high inundation has affected the Rangsit campus of Thammasat University in Pathum Thani, just north of Bangkok.
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As flood barriers in Pathum Thani failed, much more industrial estates in addition to suburban residential areas became flooded. Aspects of the Phahon Yothin Highway leading from Bangkok became inaccessible, causing severe traffic problems on alternative routes. Disruption of your barrier protecting the Khlong Prapa water supply canal ahead of time 20 October allowed floodwaters to get in the canal and rapidly flow into Sam Sen in central Bangkok, overflowing and flooding several areas over the banks. Even though breach was controlled, residents panicked and have illegally parked cars on flyovers and elements of the raised expressway.[citation needed]
Your entire Rangsit Campus of Thammasat University in Pathum Thani, north of Bangkok, serving as the greatest evacuation centre, has incurred 2-metre-high inundation. Water forced its final examinations scheduled being held in the last week of September, and subsequently semester likely to be were only available in November, to be postponed for 3 times. It is announced on November 9 how the the said final examinations are rescheduled for the last week of January, 2012, as the next semester is usually to begin on and from January 9, 2012.
Because situation continued, several floodgates managing the Rangsit/Raphiphat canal system became overwhelmed and were made to release water towards more residential areas. Residents of various districts of Bangkok, especially those bordering Pathum Thani, are already told to get ready for flooding.[citation needed]
Satellite image showing the submerged runway complex of Don Mueang Airport
The Chao Phraya River watershed drains an area of 157,924 square kilometres (60,975 sq mi). This complete area drains towards Bangkok and eventually empties in to the sea. The Chao Phraya River itself, and pumping stations around Bangkok drain approximately 420,000,000 square metres (4.5×109 sq ft) per day. However, the releases from the dams upstream of Bangkok coupled with additional rainfalls, resulted in estimates that 16,000,000,000 cubic metres (5.7×1011 cu ft) of flood waters has to be drained. This flow that headed toward Bangkok compatible 16 cubic kilometres (3.8 cu mi). Thailand's Royal Irrigation Department predicted, provided there is absolutely no new rains, it would take 30 to 45 days with this volume of water to access the sea.
Before the water flows out to sea, it requires to go somewhere. This meant flooding in any unprotected low lands. The volume of land inundated, and also the height of peak flood waters has become challenging to task for 3 good reasons.
* The exact amount of flood water flowing towards Bangkok was a bid.
* Flood waters to the Bangkok area don't arrive all concurrently.
* The volume of land area that flood waters can occupy before reaching the ocean is variable depending on how well barriers hold.
