Amata Industrial Estate Factories Closed During Flood

October 22, 2013

Top executives of the Amata Industrial Estate factories announced that 17- Phase.7 industries had stopped production temporarily, because there was water encircling the site. The workers came to work, but they could not get to work, as the water had inconveniently flooded the area. The executives said that the ground was flooded to a depth of 35 cms, and they hoped to push the water out before the next high tide and in Panthong, the water had started to reduce, but in some places it had left a stinking smell behind.

CHONBURI – October 21, 2013 [PDN]: – Mr.Wibul Krommadit (the Chairman), plus the committee of the marketing staff for Amata Corporation Limited Public Company, stated that the flood in Amata Industrial Estate factories had now reduced to 15-20 cms in Phase.7 area. However, in some spots there was water on the surface of around 30-35 cms, but the industries continued to produce except for seventeen that had stopped, because the water encircled them, so the workers were inconveniently kept away from their work, even though there was no water entering the actual industries.

Moreover, he had sent the staff to monitor the flooding all the time, and consulted the Industrial Ministry, the Industrial Estate Authority of Thailand in Chonburi, the Marines, the Irrigation Department of Chonburi, plus other associated organizations and offices in a plan remedy any problems. The marines have sent another 10-‘flow thruster ships’ (now totalling 50 of them), 100- water pumps, and have prepared 500-big ‘sand’ bags to protect the industries from flooding during the high tide period.

To push water out of the estate, they have directed the water at full efficiency into the Bangpakong River as fast as possible, but the high tide period was at 7-8 am and 4-5 pm, so that could make the water release slower. Besides the plan to cope with water, they have also focused on looking after the community, so they have sent aid packages containing dry foods, drinking water and basic drugs in order to help the affected people.

Mr. Komsan Ekachai, the Governor of Chonburi, visited to check the position in Phase.7, and identified that of the nine phases of Amata Industrial Estate, there was only one phase where the road had flooded. From 10am on Oct.19 to 9.30am on Oct.21, the ground water level reached a maximum of 35-40cms and he could confirm that the industries in Phase.7 would not be affected, because the water came only just along the road just making the traffic slower.

There were further reports regarding the floods at Mabpong- Panthong, in Chonburi, where the water had lowered to 20-30cms from 40cms, and in Nongtamlueng-Bangkao (Moo-7), Donhualor, the water was at the same level (20cms). The grounds of Don Hualor Municipality School-1, at Banmabsamkleao (Moo-7), in Don Hualor, became a shelter for 12-families, who came to live temporarily from Oct. 4th until now, because they could not go into their houses, as the water started to stink badly.