Thai Flood Death Toll Rises to 59; Bangkok Escapes Damage as Defenses Hold

[Turborama]

Source: Bloomberg

Thailand said the death toll from weeks of flooding across 36 provinces rose to 59, as Bangkok escaped major damage after bolstering the city’s defenses.

The floodwaters have affected at least 3.2 million people, and damaged 3.5 million rai (1.4 million acres) of agricultural land, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation said in a statement today. The government yesterday approved a 2.9 billion baht ($97 million) special budget to help victims.

Prime Minister Abhisit Vejjajiva, who called the floods the worst in 50 years, has pledged to give 5,000 baht to each family in the worst-hit areas. The government said yesterday that output from the nation’s main rice crop may fall 6.5 percent, and Kasikornbank Pcl warned the disaster may shave 1 percentage point from economic growth in the fourth quarter.

Floodwaters receded in 11 provinces, leaving 25 still inundated, the disaster prevention department said. The death toll since Oct. 10 rose to 59, according to the Emergency Medical Institution of Thailand.

Read more: http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-27/thai-flood-death-toll-rises-to-59-bangkok-escapes-damage-as-defenses-hold.html

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Is it just me or are the floods this year much more devastating than in the recent past?

[daleanime]

1. Yes, it's just you....

no large change in global weather patterns going on here. :eyes: :sarcasm:

[Turborama]

2. LOL no need for the sarcasm thingy

I got it once I read the actual message. I have to admit you had me at first view, though.

It was meant as a rhetorical question, but I am glad I'm not the only one here who's linking this to AGW.

BTW I'm sure there are many more DUers who feel the same way, I guess I'm trying to elicit more responses similar to yours. ;-)

[sce56]

3. We have probably already past the tipping point!

and the Oceans are not heating up either! 97Degs off the coast of Indonesia this summer.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=103x563055





Probably 70-90% of the Corals will die this year!