People living along the banks of several rivers in the North and Central Plains have been warned to brace for floods following heavy rainfall.
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Flood threat looms over plains
Post Reporters
People living along the banks of several rivers in the North and Central Plains have been warned to brace for floods following heavy rainfall.
Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation director-general Chayapol Thitisak said Sunday heavy rain has struck several provinces and river basins.
He said people living in low-lying areas along rivers, including the Chao Phraya and its tributaries, should move their belongings to high ground.
An active low pressure zone covers the upper South China Sea. It is expected to move to middle Vietnam by today and then to move over the Northeast, the East, the Central region and the North from tomorrow and Wednesday.
The Royal Irrigation Department reported the Chao Phraya barrage in Chai Nat has had to increase water release from nearly 1,600 to about 2,000 cubic metres per second due to increased water flow into the barrage.
Runoff from the North was running Sunday past Nakhon Sawan to the Chao Phraya dam at a rate of about 2,400 cubic metres per second.
As a result, the water level in the river below the Chao Phraya barrage has risen to nearly 15 metres above mean sea level, affecting more than 80 households in tambon Bang Luang of Sapphaya district.
The Chao Phraya dam in tambon Bang Luang of Sapphaya district has consequently increased the release of water downstream from 1,595 to 1,971 cubic metres per second.
In Lampang, heavy overnight rain pounded Thoen district, triggering forest runoff and flooding several villages in tambon Mae Pa, tambon Mae Wa and tambon Lom Raed. More than 400 households were inundated.
Phitsanulok, and the low-lying area of Thung Bang Rakum, has to hold back up to 380 million cubic metres of water, inundating an area of 240,000 rai. The water retention area has a maximum capacity of 400 million cubic metres. It can help reduce overflow from the northern region into the Chao Phraya River.
In Nakhon Ratchasima, people living along the banks of the Moon River have been told to move their belongings to higher ground as more water is being released from Phimai dam.
Heavy rain during the past few days has caused the water level in the Moon River to rise, and Phimai dam is now holding about two million cubic metres of water, just over its normal capacity.
To ease the pressure, dam officials are releasing water downstream at full speed, opening all six watergates. They are also installing four propulsion machines below the dam to help push water down the Moon River more quickly.
Phimai dam officials have warned people living along the banks of the Moon River to move their belongings to higher ground. All watergates along the river branches have also been opened.
