Catastrophic natural flood disaster in Thai history.
The country hit by severe flooding with all its consequences in 2011. These began due to a tropical storm in late March and quickly spread throughout northern, northeastern and central Thailand and mainly along areas of the Chao Phraya River and Mekong River. And the rain didn't stop, the rainy season was in full swing and with the very heavy rainfall in the North East of Thailand there were suddenly many severe floods in early August.
The Thailand floods in 2011 were a severe and prolonged flood event that affected much of the country, particularly the central and northern regions, from July to December 2011. The floods were caused by heavy monsoon rains and resulted in widespread damage to infrastructure, homes, and businesses. Over 800 people lost their lives, and millions were affected by the disaster. The cost of the damage was estimated to be over $45 billion, making it one of the most expensive natural disasters in Thai history.
Situations of the Thailand floods that time.
Harrowing images of the situation, in a rowboat getting your own to safety and if you didn't have that , you had to get on a homemade raft. And the many cars and other means of transport that were completely under water.
Traffic with small boats in the Thai villages.
Many cars under water.
Thai flood transport.
Thai people in a boat during the flood.
Transport and travel with boats on the streets.
Thai woman alone in a small boat.
Two eldery Thai ladies in a boat.
Cathastrophic flooding in a village outside Bangkok.
A Thai man alone on a homemade raft.
The rivers could not take it anymore and many parts of the North flooded such as Lampang Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son, Phrae and Uttaradit in the North, and Nakhon Phanom, Bung Kan, Nong Khai, Udon Thani and Sakon Nakhon among others.
In the period from late August to late September, things went from bad to worse, large areas downstream were flooded by the water, including the provinces of Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Nakhon Sawan, Ang , Nakhon Nayok, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi and Ayutthaya with its historic ancient temples were hit hard.
Cars are completely under water in Bangkok.
Flood problems near the highway in Rangsit.
A Thai lady with only the head above the water and look for safety.
Lucky to be save at the flood Rangsit.
Happy to have some food when Rangsit was flooded.
It kept going downstream this natural disaster, the northern border of Bangkok was reached. The flooded area damaged many historical sites such as Wat Chai Watthanaram.
It got worse and worse in Ayutthaya and the water flooded into this historical beautiful place, flooding the beautiful famous historical park of Ayutthaya and flooding many beautiful old historical sites.
Preparing to try to stop the rising waters.
The water comes and it rises quickly everywhere, with all hands trying to stop it, hard work was done and all resources were used. To no avail, the water won and the areas flooded.
Prepare for the worst for what is coming.
Try to block the water with big sand bags.
Working together against the rising water.
Machines helping with sand.
Big sand bags are placed.
Try the highway clear from high water,
The many sandbags and other barriers failed, which were supposed to hold back the water and protect everything. The sandbag barriers were easily broken and everything was flooded very quickly, there was no stopping it.
More sand for the bags and walls for protect for the rising water.
Need more sand to stop the rising waters.
The water is still high and rising quick.
Working hard to stop the water.
All people help each other
A way to save your car,
It looks well thought out and now we just have to wait and see if the rising water that is coming doesn't get that high. At least it's worth saving your car from the floods.
The water reached the capital city of Bangkok in mid-October, which was at most only 2 meters above sea level and in most places only 50 centimeters. The result of this disaster was that large parts of the city flooded.
The floods here continued in some areas until the third week of 2012, and there were many deaths, over 800 people died from the floods and some are still missing to this day. Almost 14 million people were affected by this disaster.
Almost all provinces were declared national disaster areas in Thailand due to these floods, this catastrophic disaster was the worst in the history of this beautiful country.
Transportation by army trucks and high trucks.
On some roads, and these were the highways that went from the center to the north of Bangkok, as example Rangsit or even Pathum Thani, you could only get there with high trucks or special army vehicles that could carry a lot of people at the same time. Social life continued as much as possible, so Thai people living in the north and working in the center had no choice and had to go to work as daily as they could. With the bus was also possible sometimes, but when you get out you got wet.
There was an awful lot of damage, economic damage like the agricultural lands that were under water for a long time, the industrial damage, many large industrial areas were under deep water. There was a great shortage of means of production, production such as hard drives and for example the cars stood completely still.
Even the World Bank announced that this terrible disaster was one of the worst and most expensive in the world.
Another big problem was and still is that the levees are subsiding, as are many parts of the city. Bangkok is subsiding by several inches every year and the soft ground with the huge weight of all those buildings is only making the problem worse.
Near Future Park Rangsit.
I love this environment, why I don't really know but everything is close by and you were everywhere in a short time if you wanted to go somewhere. These images were all taken in the vicinity of the 'Future Park Rangsit' in the North of Bangkok, a large complex with all the trimmings, it was a drama to see and I hope to never experience that again as everything was under water in 2011
My own experiences of this flood disaster.
Apart from my accommodations in Pattaya and Nakhon Ratchasima, I also had a condominium in Rangsit in the North of Bangkok, where I stayed regularly and had a great time. Within walking distance of the well know 'Future Park' with everything you could possibly need, a large shopping center with cinemas, stores, supermarkets and many restaurants.
The mini vans and taxi's were there to go to Pattaya and the center of Bangkok was less than 20 minutes away, a great place for me to stay.
Water flows over at Rangsit apartment.
I saw everything from up close how this neighborhood was slowly but surely preparing for what was to come; the first sandbags at the small canals, the small wall that was bricked up in front of the properties and stores, the pump installations were placed and so on.
I used to stay here when I was in Bangkok until the flood also reached Rangsit. Witnessed it all up close and hoped the water didn't come so fast and certainly not so high, it took from no water to 2 meters high only 2 days and they had to get me off the second floor of the building. Only went back one more time when the water had subsided and to move. The terrible stench after water flooding is very bad, what a stink that rotten wood and all that and then the garbage, what a smell.
But to no avail, in early November I woke up and looked down from my balcony and saw that water was already slowly flowing into the street. This day it went fast and within two days, the water was 2 meters high, a catastrophe for many here.
I had to leave my condo but could stay higher up in the neighborhood somewhere, will never forget this time. Very intense with a big impact on Thai life and people.
Helpless Thai people are helped as much as possible.
There was a great need for help during this flood disaster in 2011, and everyone who could help went to help, whether it was the Thai military, the local municipality or local Thai people. There was a lot of boating around for 24/7 to provide water and food for the helpless people who were stuck on the first floor or on the roof. It was good to see that there was so much help, millions of Thai people really needed it.
Living on the roof of your house for a long time.
And there you are staying in distress, on your roof of your house with your wife, as quickly as possible brought up everything of value and what you need and now just wait and see when the water is going to subside, it's terrible but it's survival and these Thai people are still alive and get some help.
Flooded highway at Future Park Rangsit.
This is the major highway to the north of Bangkok that runs past Don Muang Airport towards Rangsit and even further to Pathum Thani. As you can see, everything was under water on this major transit route, it was really catastrophic for the millions of people who had to get to work and back again, and for many just not doable. It's a sad sight to see this.
More flooded roads.
The water on the highways in Bangkok was there and stayed there for weeks before it finally started to subside very slowly. Many Thai people suffered from these wretched conditions that are beyond your control.
There was a lot of suffering, a lot of suffering of the people who were affected and where their homes were under water up to the roof. Millions of people had to be helped and also for the animals it was hard and many animals did not survive either.
Poor helpless animals.
It is very sad for me asnd i think for many of us to see this animal suffering, you can see the fear in the eyes of the dogs and they probably think; what is happening to me here! I show some pictures of the situation where the animals suffered, luckily many were saved but also many drowned, dogs, cats and also cows and oxen. It remains hard to see this.
These Thai dogs were lucky to be rescued.
Fortunately there were many Thai animal lovers and special units to rescue the animals, with special thanks to all animal rescue workers in Thailand during the floods in 2011, it was and is much appreciated.
Using the water with pleasure.
And of course there are the Thai children but also adults who also take advantage of it and play in the too dirty water. I had never seen a jet ski in action on the highway before, but this year, it was unique. Also the people who lay or sat relaxed on an air or regular mattress and floated around thoughtlessly. What would they have thought of!
Earning money with a water taxi stand.
And of course there are Thai people who are creative and see money in everything, that is their right of course. In a short period of time, for example, there were boarding places everywhere for boats that transported passengers on the flooded roads to the nearest place where they had to be. Of course for a fee, there had to be earned something and so just pay, after all you went with a water taxi.
Flooded airport of Don Muang.
This was really unique and I don't think it's ever happened before; A flooded and flooded Don Muang airport in 2011. Some people thought they were fake photos, but I passed it often enough and I saw very clearly that it was real, it was real water! A terrible situation.
Water finally drops and then the mess and cleanup.
And finally the time had come, the water began to recede. It took a while but every day it went down a few centimeters, not fast but luckily it went down. When the water was finally gone, it was time to start cleaning up the horrible filthy mess. Water damage is the worst there is, everything is rotten, especially if it is made of wood. And you can just throw it away, the mold gets in after a few days and never goes out. I will never forget that stench that lingered for weeks.
Thai flood police.
Thai police continue to do their job despite the flooded areas; off to work on the raft and controlling the busy traffic!
Making money continues during the floods.
Where the sellers could walk and stand in the water, they also sold. For most money here; no work or selling nothing is not money, so continue as much as possible and possible. The trade in life jackets also did well, most of the Thai people have never learned to swim, so this was necessary.
Fishing on the streets.
Some people tried in a very special way to earn some extra money or find something to eat for the family; Fishing in the flooded streets and roads. Don't think you'll see this very often, but you never know with nature.
