Sunday, Nov 27, 2011

Gulf News

Dubai While massive cleanup operations in some parts of Bangkok have started since flood waters have receded in the capital, some areas outside central Thailand remain inundated.

Pathum Thani, for example, a province north of Bangkok and hometown of Dubai-based Thai national Lynna Pornintra is still flooded waist-deep. The flooding started a month ago, a day after she arrived home for a holiday.

“[There was] water everywhere. But the house was still dry when I flew back home,” Lynna, 27, a group sales executive at Dusit Thani Hotel, told Gulf News. Lynna is one of the 5,500 Thai nationals who currently live and work in the UAE.

Thailand’s worst flooding in more than half a century, which began in late July due to monsoon rains and a series of tropical storms, hit even the most prepared --among them was Pornintra’s father.

Armed with sandbags, concrete, and three water pumps, Pornintra’s father and two cousins thought they could keep the rising water out, but to no avail.

“He was trying his best to pump the water out. That was what they were doing throughout the night. But some of the water leaked into the house even if he had sandbags.”

‘Really dangerous’

“I could not sleep that whole 24 hours because it’s really dangerous for my dad. He is 58, he’s not that fit to actively fight [the water off],” Pornintra, who stayed at her friend’s house that night upon her father’s advice, said.

Within 24 hours, the water level rose from ankle to chest level. It took another six hours for father and daughter to finally reunite. What used to be a 30-minute drive by car, became a six-hour trip by car and by boat. What used to be a bus stop became a boat stop. “When I finally met him, I was about to cry but I couldn’t. Seeing him, I knew he had to be strong because of me. He could not show that he was struggling.”

When her father decided to drive up north to seek dry ground, Pornintra was left with her friends. But the house where she was staying became flooded as well; so was the next house where she moved to.

“I was like a refugee moving around. I caught rides with people I didn’t know. I would say I got a lot of helping hand.”

Thailand’s four-month flooding has claimed more than 600 lives and has affected more than two-thirds of Thailand’s 77 provinces. But the spirit of giving and helping in the central heartland remained.

“The people helped each other. The situation really showed me that the people are so loving and caring. Some of them learned to live with the situation.”

Help was extended from Dubai to Thailand as well. Pornintra said received aid from her company. And because a large percentage of Dusit Thani Dubai’s employees are Thais, the hotel has adopted a system to financially help the employees affected by the floods in Thailand.

The Thai community in the UAE, meanwhile, recently organised two charity events to raise funds for the relief operations in Thailand. The Thai Business Council also raised funds amounting to Dh12,000 for the flood victims. Another event will be organised later this month for the same purpose.

One-month ordeal

Pornintra’s family lost half of their house, their school which they opened in June, two cars, and other furniture to the flood. They used up their savings during the one-month ordeal. But Pornintra still counts herself lucky.

“I was very very sad. The feeling is really complex, I don’t know how to state it properly. But it felt like we were lucky that we still were able to save our lives. But there were places where the water was really big, they lost family, friends, and they were hit really hard. So we are trying to be positive about the situation and plan for the future about what we should do next.”

By Janice Ponce de Leon Staff Reporter

Gulf News 2011. All rights reserved.