Emergency Message to U.S. Citizens on Flooding in Thailand

October 7, 2011

Seasonal monsoon rainfall worsened by a series of tropical depressions is flooding wide areas of central Thailand and scattered locations in northern and northeastern Thailand. These conditions are expected to continue for at least several more days, worsening in the Chao Phraya River basin from Uthaithani and Chai Nat provinces to Ayutthaya. Flood conditions between Ayutthaya and the mouth of the Chao Phraya River south of Bangkok are expected to increase in severity for several additional days. Land transportation is disrupted in these areas.

As of October 7, according to Thai government sources including the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, portions of 54 highways are closed. This includes the Asia Highway, the main highway north out of Bangkok.

Bus and train service linking Bangkok with points to the north is suspended.

Bus routes between Bangkok and northeast Thailand are operating.

Trains are running between Bangkok and northeast Thailand. However they have been rerouted to an eastern line and are not serving smaller stations in and near Bangkok.

We advise you to monitor local media, confirm travel arrangements, and defer travel to or through flood impacted areas.

The Thai government has mobilized relief efforts and rescue operations in flooded areas.

If you are affected by the flooding and need urgent assistance, contact the Thai Government’s English-speaking Tourist Police, who can be reached nationwide by dialing 1155. For Thai speakers, there are hotlines for trains: 1690, busses: 1490, highway: 1586, 1784, and 1146 for local roads; highway police: 1193, and emergencies: 191. You can see the Thai Meteorological Department’s weather forecasts and warnings at its website.

The American Citizen Services Unit of the U.S. Embassy is located at 95 Wireless Road in Bangkok, and can be reached by calling 66-2-205-4049, or by e-mailing acsbkk@state.gov. The Embassy’s after-hours emergency telephone number is 66-2-205-4000. The U.S. Consulate General in Chiang Mai is located at 387 Wichayanond Road in Chiang Mai. The American Citizen Services Unit of the Consulate General can be reached by calling 66-53-107-777 and by e-mail at acschn@state.gov. The after-hours emergency telephone number is 66-81-881-1878.

For the latest security information, you should regularly monitor the Department’s Bureau of Consular Affairs Internet website, where current Worldwide Cautions, Travel Alerts, Travel Warnings and health-information resources can be found. You can also obtain up-to-date information on security by calling 1-888-407-4747 (toll free) in the U.S. and Canada or, for callers in other areas, by calling a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444. These numbers are available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. (Eastern Time), Monday through Friday (except U.S. federal holidays).

We encourage you notify us of your presence in Thailand by enrolling in the Department of State’s Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP).