Flooding in Thailand

 Flooding in Thailand

Issued at Bangkok at 18.30 (GMT+7) updated

The flooding situation in Thailand is mainly affecting the central provinces along the Chao Phraya River including Bangkok and Ayutthaya.  Other popular tourist destinations in the central region including Pattaya, Hua Hin, Kanchanaburi and Ko Chang have not been affected by the floods.  Tourist destinations in the south of Thailand including Phuket, Krabi, Surat Thani, Ko Samui, Hat Yai and Phang-Na; and in the north including Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai and Sukhothai, also have not been affected by the floods.

Flood waters in Ayutthaya and some other central provinces have begun to subside, although many areas are not yet fully accessible. Tourist attractions in Ayutthaya will reopen once they have been restored.

Events relating to Loy Krathong, an ancient tradition that has been celebrated since the Sukhothai Era, will still take place in many locations throughout Thailand including Sukhothai, Chiang Mai, Tak, Hat Yai and Surat Thani during November 8th to 10th.  Some Loy Krathong events have been cancelled in Bangkok, Ayutthaya and Suphanburi due to the flood.

Situation in Bangkok

Most areas of central Bangkok where to tourists normally go are not flooded at this time. The Chao Phraya River, which runs through Bangkok, is at a higher-than-normal level. This is causing some flooding at tourist attractions that are close to the river, especially during high tide periods.

Areas flooded in the 1,568 square km Bangkok Metropolitan Area includes suburbs in the east and west, the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, and districts in the northern part of the city. The government has advised residents to leave these areas until the flood water can be drained.

In central Bangkok, businesses, hotels, shops and tourist attractions remain open as per normal in areas including:

·        Khao San Road

·        Phetchaburi Road

·        Ploenchit/ Chidlom

·        Pratunam

·        Rama 1 Road

·        Rama 4 Road

·        Ratchaprasong (Central World area)

·        Sathorn

·        Siam Square/ MBK/ Siam Paragon

·        Silom/ Surawongse

·        Sukhumvit Road/ The Emporium

·        Yaowarat (Chinatown)

Tourist attractions in Bangkok that are currently closed due to flooding include:

·        Central Lat Phrao

·        Chatuchak Weekend Market

·        Safari World

The BTS Skytrain and MRT subway are operating normally. Taxis and tuk tuks are available as per usual.  Many BMTA bus routes have been rerouted or suspended due to the flooding.  Express boat services on the Chao Phraya River have also been suspended, as have most water-related tourist activities.

Given the rapidly changing nature of the flooding situation in Bangkok, the TAT advises travelers to carefully consider visiting tourist attractions close to the Chao Phraya River as they may be in areas affected by flooding, which could limit access.  Visitors should also check multiple sources of information to make an informed decision about whether they should visit central Bangkok at the present time.

Transportation

Airports

Bangkok is served by two airports. Suvarnabhumi Airport, the main gateway to Thailand with 120 international and domestic airlines, remains open. It has considerable flood protection measures in place and is operating normally, handling around 800 flights per day. Suvarnabhumi Airport is also the main connector for international arrivals to domestic flights serving tourist destinations throughout Thailand such as Phuket, Chiang Mai and Surat Thani. Domestic flights are operating as per normal between Suvarnabhumi Airport and all other airports in Thailand.

Transportation to and from the airport into central Bangkok including taxis, buses and the Airport Rail Link have not been affected by the floods and are operating normally. Highways from the airport to tourist destinations southeast of Bangkok such as Pattaya, Rayong and Ko Chang are open. Travelers should allow additional time to travel to the airport due to traffic congestion.

Don Mueang Airport, the old international airport, is closed due to flooding. The two domestic airlines operating from Don Mueang have temporarily switched their operations to Suvarnabhumi Airport.

A “Tourist Assistance Center” is set up on the 3rd floor of Airport Rail Link’s Makkasan Station, open between 06:00-18:00 hours, to facilitate tourists’ transport from hotels in central Bangkok to the airport.  The TAT and Thai Hotels Association (THA) are providing free transportation from hotels to Makkasan Station. The Tourist Police will assist tourists at Makkasan Station and at the airport. Tourists who would like to use this service can contact the Tourist Assistance Center via the TAT Call Center at 1672, or the Tourist Police at 1155.

State Railway of Thailand and inter-provincial bus services:

State Railway of Thailand (SRT) and inter-provincial bus services are operating as per usual in areas that are not affected by the floods. In Bangkok and other areas affected by the floods, the SRT and inter-provincial bus service operators are adjusting their routes to best serve passengers given the disruptions caused by the flooding.  Inter-provincial buses from Bangkok to southern provinces are leaving from a temporary station with shuttle services to and from the Southern Bus Terminal, also known as Sai Tai Mai.

Train services to northeastern Thailand are operating as per normal.  Train services to the northern provinces are operating between Hua Lamphong station in central Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Trains to the north are being rerouted around flooded areas, adding approximately two hours of travel time.  Train services to the southern provinces are operating from Hua Lamphong station or Nakhon Pathom if required due to flooding in Bangkok’s western suburbs. The SRT is providing shuttle bus services between Hua Lamphong station and Nakhon Pathom when needed.  Travelers are advised to check in advance with these operators and may want to consider flying to their destinations within Thailand.