Over 600 have died so far in Thailand’s worst flood in 50 years, which has lasted four months thus far. To date, flood defenses in central Bangkok have successfully prevented the waters from reaching central Bangkok, Thailand’s financial center. However, the same barricades have prevented flood water from draining from Bangkok’s suburbs, angering residents and creating controversy over whether safeguarding Bangkok is worth the inconveniences.

The disruptions in production of auto parts has led to an estimated loss of 30,000 cars from Ford Motor Co. alone. The floods have also destroyed 25 percent of Thailand’s rice crop and led to an increase in the global price of computer hard drives.

United States Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced an extra $10 million in flood relief Nov. 16. Clinton said that reopening Bangkok’s airport, which was the base for flood relief before it was forced to shut down, was a major goal of the aid package. #