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More roads, banks closed, subway at risk
Report from Bangkok Post dated 4 November 2011 :-
More roads, banks closed, subway at risk
Police have now closed 47 roads to traffic because of the flooding in Bangkok, as some underground rail stations are also under flood threat.
The intersection to the Ratchavibha Interchange was closed on Friday in addition to the Ratchayothin intersection on Vibhavadi-Rangsit and Phahon Yothin roads.
Four more minor roads ere also closed. They are Phraya Suren, Thoet Rachan, Chaeng Wattana Soi 5 and Chang Akat Uthit roads.
In western Bangkok, road closures now include Kanchanaphisek road (from Khlong Mahasawat bridge to Khlong Bang Phai), Ratchaphruek road (Khlong Mahasawat to Boromratchonnanee road), Suan Phak road (the Kanchana intersection to Saphan Kham Thang Rot Fai), Bang Ramat road (Kanchana road to Ratchaphruek road), Thawi Watthana road (Khlong Thawi Wattana to Kanchanaphisek).
Other routes are Phutthamonthon Sai 1 (from the southern railway transport station to Khlong Bang Phai), Thung Mangkon road (Boromratchonnanee to Suan Phak road), Chim Phli road (the Thung Mangkon intersection to the Taling Chan police station), Chaiyaphruk road (Boromratchonnanee road to Wat Chaiyaphruk) and Bang Waek road (Khlong Thawi Watthana to the Bang Sao Thong police station).
The widespread flooding in the capital has also threatened some underground rail stations.
A spokesman for the Bangkok subway, the MRT, said that three stations -- Lat Phrao, Phahon Yothin and Chatuchak Park -- were at risk and might have to be shut down if the water outside rose to 40 centimetres deep.
"We have deployed officials at all risk stations to assess the situation hourly," he said.
Skytrain operator BTS said all services were still operating.
The Bank of Thailand said 13 commercial banks and a financial firm reported that they had now temporarily closed a total of 556 branches in flood-hit provinces.
Of the total, 267 outlets are in Bangkok, 152 in Pathum Thani, 69 in Nonthaburi, 28 in Ayutthaya, 26 in Nakhon Pathom, seven in Nakhon Sawan, one in Chai Nat and the remainder scattered through other flooded towns, the central bank said.
Siam Commercial Bank had the most closed outlets, at 118, followed by Krung Thai (84) and Kasikornbank (77).
Services at 4,943 ATMs operated by the banks were also halted.
Of the total, 1,679 are in Bangkok, 1,479 in Pathum Thani, 736 in Nonthaburi, 635 in Ayutthaya, 163 in Nakhon Pathom, 57 in Nakhon Sawan, 55 in Samut Sakhon, 47 in Samut Prakan and the remainder scattered through other flooded towns.
The central bank on Thursday, Nov 3, reported the banks had closed 482 branches.
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