Big dams not releasing water

This year, flooding in Bangkok has been caused by torrential rains, not water released from the big northern dams as was the case in 2011. PATIPAT JANTHONG (NOTE: To see this photo in full colour, press the "Switch colour tone" button at the bottom right of the browser window)

Flooding in the central plains and Bangkok area is not due to water releases from Thailand's two biggest dams. Torrential rain and the Chao Phraya dam are the culprits.

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Egat: Bhumibol and Sirikit dams not releasing water

Post reporters

Bhumibol and Sirikit dams in the North have ceased releasing water since Oct 7 in line with the resolution of a subcommittee monitoring the water situation, Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand (Egat) assistant governor for hydro-power plants Nutthavutthi Chamchang said on Sunday.

Mr Nutthavutthi was denying a report spreading on social media that Bhumbol Dam was releasing 100 million cubic metres of water per day and would cause Bangkok to be flooded.

Egat has been forced to deny social media rumours that the Bhumibol and Sirikit (above) dams are overflowing. The energy agency says the Bhumibol Dam as of Saturday was filled to 69% of capacity, while the Sirikit Dam is at 84%, and both dams have stopped discharging water at all. (Photo courtesy Egat)

He said both Bhumibol Dam in Tak province and Sirikit Dam in Uttaradit have additional capacity, about 30% for Bhumibol and a little less than 20% for Sirikit.

As of Oct 14, the volume of water at Bhumibol Dam was 9.24 billion cu/m, 69% of its capacity, and Sirikit Dam 7.97 billion cu/m, or 84% full.

The two dams can still take more water for consumption and agriculture in the next dry season, he added.

Chayapol Thitisak, director-general of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), said torrential (rain)rainand the Chao Phraya dam's accelerated water discharge over the past week have caused flooding in Lop Buri, Kamphaeng Phet, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Nakhon Sawan, Chai Nat, Tak and Pichit provinces.

A view from a drone of Chai Nat province's Sapphaya district shows houses submerged in flood water after the Chao Phraya barrage dam in the Central Plains province accelerated water discharge. (Photo by Chudet Sihawong)

Wisan Wasuntharapon, chief of the Nakhon Sawan Provincial Irrigation Office, said runoff from the northern region continues to flow into Nakhon Sawan at an average speed of 2,700 cubic metres of water per second.

Accordingly, the level of the Chao Phraya is rising and affecting low-lying areas on the banks of the river.

However, it is highly unlikely that this year's deluge will cause a disaster comparable to the floods of 2011, he said.