Catastrophic floods are devastating vast swaths of Bangkok and its surrounding areas, but the scale of the problem is only just becoming apparent for residents and component makers alike.
Just a snapshot of how inundated Bangkok is – and could yet become – came today (25 October) from Bangkok governor Sukhumbhand Paribatra who noted the high tide later could reach 2.4m – that’s nearly nine feet in old money – but the river barrier is only capable of protecting water up to 1.3m.
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The sales export officer for Bangkok-based Fortune Parts Industry that makes body parts for myriad customers around the world told just-auto his factory was building extra walls to shore up the plant, while also sourcing sandbags.
Those sandbags seem to be in extraordinary demand at the moment. The authorities are reckoning they need a staggering ten million of them to cope with what appears to be a vast problem and are urging riverside residents to exercise “extraordinary caution.”
The floods are partly deliberate in that the government has opened sluice gates in an attempt to control the enormous amount of water, but authorities are flexing their muscles by noting as “discouraging and detrimental” those opposed to the floodgates action.
“Therefore, at this critical moment amidst unfortunate circumstances general public should be cooperative and provide lending effort,” note the authorities today.
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By GlobalDataFor its side, Fortune Parts says it is working normally today, although the very fact it was prepared to speak to just-auto at such a late local hour indicates how preoccupied it must be in barricading itself against the potentially rising waters.
Apologetically, the export sales officer had to ring off as more urgent work needed to be done and judging from the hubbub in the background it certainly seemed like all hands to the pump.
Calls to the Thai Autoparts Manufacturers Association in Bangkok did not elicit such a clear response however. Despite repeated attempts to clarify the situation, the Association declined to give details of its assessment of the flooding situation or of the impact on its 500 or so members, preferring to direct just-auto to the Thai government.
In fairness to the Association, it must be extremely busy, but the lack of information means an accurate assessment of the situation is still fluid.
Clearly mindful of its own recent devasting earthquake, Japanese Ambassador to Thailand, Seiji Kojima, has already visited Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra at the Flood Relief Operations Centre.
As a result, the Japan International Cooperation Agency and the Japan Bank for International Cooperation will offer soft loans for Thailand in its flood rehabilitation efforts.
Thailand is a major component producer but confusion reigns as to the impact any shortages will have on regional and international vehicle manufacturers.
Asia is already reeling from the after-effects of the Japanese earthquake – the Thai floods are yet another huge challenge for the components sector.
To reinforce that, my colleague has just spoken to a resident in Bangkok who has been told all business will shut down in Bangkok for five days in 48h time. This will likely become worse before it becomes better.
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