Bangkok now dry; travel is safe—DFA

The Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has lifted its Octocber 29 advisory against taking nonessential travel to Bangkok, noting that the floods in the Thai capital and nearby areas have receded.

In a statement, the DFA on Thursday said “central Bangkok remains dry and all popular destinations and areas are mainly unaffected by the floods.”

Drawing attention to a report of the Flood Relief Operations Center in Bangkok, the foreign office said, “The floods have now mostly receded and the government has started to

downsize the FROC.”

Philippine nationals “may now undertake travels to Bangkok,” the DFA concluded.

In May 2010, the agency issued an advisory warning against trips to Thailand due to the “escalating violence” in the Southeast Asian country.

The Thai government was then engaged in a deadly crackdown against antigovernment “Red Shirt” protests that ended in late May, leaving nearly 90 people dead and some 2,000 wounded.

A month later, the DFA lifted the advisory, citing improved peace and order situation in the Thai capital.

Originally posted at 12:15 pm | Thursday, January 05, 2012