Travel Alert: Heavy Rain, Floods in Thailand and Rome

Flood map of Thailand (2011) - Google map

Travel Alert: Heavy Rain, Floods in Thailand and Rome

As a major agricultural exporter and top rice producer, there are concerns about shortage of rice supplies, especially to the ASEAN countries, China, Japan and Korea, who are the main consumers of rice. Major industry affected by this monsoon disaster is the automotive, where Toyota and Honda have to suspend some assembly operations and suffer hundreds of million dollars in damage. Meanwhile, Western Digital, the hard drive manufacturer, has two major production facilities in the flood zone and they have to cease operations.

Rome, Italy

Rains and flash flood is causing significant disruptions to several ground transportations a couple of days ago. Several major roads in the city like around the Piazza di Porta Capena are closed and metro record travel suspension along lines A and B. Buses are also having some suspensions on their routes.

Intercity rail travel between Rome and Lido and Viterbo are also affected with delays in service. Rome's Fiumicino Airport (FCO) is expecting moderate delays in flight departures and arrivals which would disrupt domestic and international travel if the heavy rains won't ease up and continue to fill up the drains which cause flooding.

So far, one casualty has been reported and several reports of missing persons received by the local police. Rome city mayor is looking forward to declare a state of emergency if situation worsens.

http://sekupang.net/travelista/post/2011/10/22/Travel-Alert-Heavy-Rain-Floods-in-Thailand-and-Rome.aspx