News 

According to Bangkok Post news, the restoration of damaged facilities at flooded industrial estates in Ayutthaya province has made considerable progress. Twelve of the 70 factories in Factory Land industrial estate had resumed production, and the rest were expected to be operational again early next month, said Industry Minister Wannarat Channukul on Nov. 15.  

Floodwater in Bang Pa-in industrial estate was expected to be drained off before Nov. 22.  60 to 70 out of the 90 factories in it were likely to resume their production at the beginning of December. Hi-Tech industrial estate was expected to be dry by Nov. 25 and all factories in it would resume their operations in early December. As for Rojana Industrial Park, floodwater in all the three phases of it was being pumped out. It was expected to be dry by Nov. 30 and resume production in early December as well. At Saha Rattananakhon industrial estate the water level was still higher than the top of the flood dyke. The road between Bang Pahan and Bang Dua would be cut open to drain water out. Pumping water out of the estate would begin in early December and was expected to be completed in one week. In Pathum Thani, the water levels at Bang Kradee and Navanakhon industrial estates were still higher than the earth dykes around them. Restoration work at these two estates would begin after the floodwater had receded.

As for Bang Chan and Lat Krabang industrial estates east of Bangkok, the water levels around them had been stabilized. The minister said he was confident no other industrial estates would be flooded. He said the Japan International Cooperation Agency (Jica) was sending 10 large water pumps to help restore the flood-hit industrial estates. They were scheduled to arrive at Laem Chabang deep-sea port on Nov. 17 and would be distributed quickly.