Floods threaten Bangkok factories

2011-11-07 28

Factory workers in the Thai capital race to keep floodwaters from reaching two industrial estates.
Here at the Bang Chan business park over 90 factories are at risk of flooding.
Lat Krabang is the second, employing 50,000 workers in 254 factories.
One factory manager was optimistic the flood defences would hold.
(SOUNDBITE) (Thai) 47-YEAR-OLD SAHA UNION FACTORY MANAGER CHARO KRITCHANKRAN SAYING:
"We started to cover the factory compounds with iron flood barriers after we heard about the flooding in Ayutthaya. We are confident that these barriers can stop the floodwater flowing into our factory."
Many factories are shifting their stocks to higher ground but if machines can't be operated the work will stop.
(SOUNDBITE) (Thai) 52-YEAR-OLD SAHA UNION FACTORY WORKER NATHAYA SANGTOPO SAYING:
"Yes we are worried about the factory, because we have a lot of big machines. If these machines can't work it means we will lose another industrial estate."
Flooding last month caused seven big industrial estates to close.
This has affected global supply chains for electronics and car manufacturers, like Japanese car maker Honda.
Over 500 people have been killed since July in Thailand's worst floods in half a century.
Marie-Claire Fennessy, Reuters