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Small vehicles can now navigate through Lat Phrao intersection as the flood situation steadily eases, reports said Wednesday. The flood level at Lat Phrao intersection continues receding. (Photo by Rattaseema Pongsen) The flood level on Lat Phrao Road heading to Ratchayothin was about 20 centimetres while the flood levels on the road heading to Bang Kapi, Ratchadaphisek and Sutthisan were between 10 and 15 centimetres. The reports said the floodwater at Lat Phrao intersection was receding only slowly as many drainage pipes were filled with sand. Police had called city officials to help unblock the pipes. Central Pattana Plc (CPN) announced that Central Plaza Lat Phrao will reopen this Friday, Nov 18. The company said the shopping mall will open from 10am to 9pm between Nov 18 and 24.

Thai Travel News perceives inner Bangkok as safe for tourism at the present time. Travellers should avoid flood affected areas throughout the north and west of the city, and check our website for any change to the current situation. For more information read our Bangkok Travel Advisory and Flood FAQ.

Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra is looking forward to using the 19th Asean Summit in Bali as a platform to restore confidence and reaffirm the conntry's commitment for rebuilding in the wake of the flood crisis. "In the face of flood crisis, I will take the opportunity to restore the international confidence in Thailand," she said yesterday in a televised programme. Yingluck said during her meeting with foreign leaders, she would outline the country's longterm plan for reconstruction. As Asean neighbours also faced flooding, she said she would urge for the regional cooperation on flood control and disaster mitigation. She said her government was grateful for assistance on flood relief from the United States, China, South Korea and Japan. The government would work with Japan, the largest investor in floodhit areas, in order to prevent a repeat of the catastrophic flood, she said. Yingluck is scheduled to leave for Bali at 9pm.

More on CNNGo: Updated Thailand flood info for tourists A statement on the FCO website said: "We now assess that the risk of floods affecting central Bangkok is reducing, though a small risk remains that some of the floodwater affecting the suburbs to the north, east and west of Bangkok could spread slowly towards the centre of the city. This risk will diminish as more floodwater drains into the sea." As of Tuesday afternoon, the Australian and United States governments had yet to downgrade their advice to citizens and are still advising them to reconsider travel to Thailand's flood-hit provinces, including Bangkok. The U.S. advisory does, however, note that most tourist destinations, such as Phuket and Chiang Mai, are unaffected by the current flooding and Bangkok’s main international airport, Suvarnabhumi, is operating normally. Read more: United Kingdom lifts advisory against travel to Bangkok | CNNGo.com http://www.cnngo.com/bangkok/visit/united-kingdom-lifts-advisory-against-travel-bangkok-278056#ixzz1dmm5iBmT

Water down on Ratchada-Lat Phrao Published: 15/11/2011 at 03:16 PM Online news: The level of the floodwaters on sections of Ratchadaphisek and Lat Phrao roads has dropped, the Traffic Police Division reported on Tuesday afternoon. The water level on Lat Phrao Road from the Ratchadaphisek-Lat Phrao intersection to Lat Phrao Soi 39 (Soi Phawana) was down to 30cm; the water on Ratchadaphisek Road from the intersection down to Khlong Bang Sue near the Chao Phraya Park hotel also fell to 30cm. However, the roads were still impassable to small vehicles.

Manufacturers and distributors have re-established stable supply lines for consumer products. Local brands of bottled water and beer are available in most locations, as are imported brands of bottled water and beer. Highway 35, a major road to the south also known as Rama II Road, still remains open. If this route is closed due to flooding, the Transport Ministry has prepared alternate routes between Bangkok and provinces in southern Thailand. They will ensure continued access to destinations such as Hua Hin, Cha-Am and Chumphon, as well as places in the western area of the central provinces such as Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi.

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 at the car park of the Holland Beer House on Rama II Road in the southwest part of Bangkok. Train services to north and northeastern Thailand are operating as per normal from Hua Lamphong Station, with some delays due to rerouting. Train services to the southern provinces are operating mainly from Nakhon Pathom due to flooding in Bangkok’s western suburbs. The SRT is providing shuttle bus services between Hua Lamphong Station and Nakhon Pathom. Travelers are advised to check in advance with these operators and may want to consider flying to their destinations within Thailand.

RAIL: • Train services to the North from Bangkok resumed 29 October 2011. • The State Railway of Thailand cancelled all south-bound train services from Bangkok Friday 28th Oct 2011. SRT has arranged the bus from Hua Lamphong Station to Nakhon Pathom station and passenger can continue the train from there to Southern part. • Train services to other parts of Thailand are operating as per normal. • Please call 1690 for more information.

RAIL: • Train services to the North from Bangkok resumed 29 October 2011. • The State Railway of Thailand cancelled all south-bound train services from Bangkok Friday 28th Oct 2011. SRT has arranged the bus from Hua Lamphong Station to Nakhon Pathom station and passenger can continue the train from there to Southern part. • Train services to other parts of Thailand are operating as per normal. • Please call 1690 for more information.

In Eastern Bangkok, the roads closed are: 1. Suwinthawong Road – Mahanakorn Intersection 2. Suwinthawong Road – from Ratuthit elevated road to Panitchayakarn Minburi Intersection 3. Ratuthit Road 4. Hathairaj Road- from Suwinthawong elevated road to Hathairaj Soi 1 5. Pracharuamjai Road 6. Nimitmai Road 7. Serithai Road – from Minburi Intersection to Bangchan Intersection 8. Suan Siam Road – from Suan Siam Intersection to Nopparat Hospital Intersection In South Eastern Bangkok, the roads closed are: 1. Phattanakarn Road (Bang Kae) 2. Kamnunmaen – from TerdTai elevated Road to Kalapraphruek elevated Road

No provinces in the south were affected by the flood: Chumphon Phuket Krabi Ranong Nakhon Si Thammarat Songkhla (Hat Yai) Narathiwat Satun Pattani Surat Thani (Ko Samui) Phang Nga Trang Phatthalung Yala

No provinces in the south were affected by the flood: Chumphon Phuket Krabi Ranong Nakhon Si Thammarat Songkhla (Hat Yai) Narathiwat Satun Pattani Surat Thani (Ko Samui) Phang Nga Trang Phatthalung Yala

Suvarnabhumi Airport: Suvarnabhumi Airport, the main international gateway to Thailand, remains open. It has considerable flood protection measures in place. Suvarnabhumi Airport is 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 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. Don Mueang Airport, the old international airport, still remains closed due to flooding. The two domestic airlines based at Don Mueang continue operating from Suvarnabhumi Airport. A “Tourist Assistance Center” on the 3rd floor of Airport Rail Link’s Makkasan Station is facilitating tourists’ transport from hotels in central Bangkok to 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.

Situation in Bangkok Areas flooded in the Bangkok Metropolitan Area include suburbs in the east and west, the west bank of the Chao Phraya River, and districts in the northern part of the city. In central Bangkok, businesses, hotels, shops and tourist attractions remain open as per normal in areas including: Khao San Road Ratchaprasong (Central World area) Phetchaburi Road Sathorn Ploenchit/ Chidlom Siam Square/ MBK/ Siam Paragon Pratunam Silom/ Surawongse Rama I Road Sukhumvit Road/ The Emporium Rama IV Road Yaowarat (Chinatown)

THAI Offers Special “ Southern Thailand Flood Relief” Fares Thai Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) is implementing special reduced fares to Southern Thailand in case the main road to the south from Bangkok is flooded. Mr. Piyasvati Amranand, President of THAI, said that in accordance with the request made by Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra and the Ministry of Transport to accommodate passengers traveling to the south of Thailand , THAI will offer “Southern Thailand Flood Relief” special fare tickets by 47-58% from regular ticket prices. This special fare is effective from 11 November 2011 to 10 December 2011. THAI will operate flights from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Thailand ’s southern provinces with a total capacity of 5,039 seats per day and will add more flights and changing the aircrafts if needed for accommodating passengers and cargo services. Bangkok-Surat Thani: from regular fare of 4,290 baht, reduced to 1,820 baht Bangkok-Krabi from regular fare of 4,490 baht, reduced to 1,920 baht Bangkok-Phuket from regular fare of 4,675 baht, reduced to 2,015 baht Bangkok-Hat Yai: from regular fare of 5,155 baht, reduced to 2,255 baht Bangkok-Samui from regular fare of 6,360 baht, reduce to 2,930 baht (The ticket fare includes fuel surcharge, but excludes airport tax) For more information, please call the THAI Contact Center at Tel. 02-356-1111 or THAI’s ticketing office or www.thaiairways.com