Provinces in the Northeast are expecting to see improvement in the flood situation as authorities in Khon Kaen have agreed to gradually reduce the rate of water discharged from the Ubolratana dam.
It will be cut from 54 to 45 million cubic metres (cu/m) a day over five days to relieve severe flooding in the downstream Phong River.
At an urgent meeting chaired by Khon Kaen governor Somsak Changtrakun Tuesday, the provincial water management board resolved to back a proposal to reduce water discharge, following a decrease of water flow into the reservoir, which was full to overflowing.
Previously water poured into the dam at a rate of 70 million cu/m a day, but the in-flow rate later reduced by half, measuring at 36 million cu/m, Mr Somsak said.
This relieves concerns over the dangerous levels of water in the reservoir which had exceeded its holding capacity, sparking concerns for the safety of those downstream.
It also allows authorities to adjust water management to cope with powerful overflows from the Phong River, locally called "Nam Phong," into riverside areas.
The discharge of water will be reduced gradually, Mr Somsak said.
Officials were ordered to start applying the daily 2-million cu/m reduction rate from noon Tuesday.
Ubolratana Dam (formerly Phong Neeb Dam) is the largest multi-purpose dam in the Northeast. The dam is across the Phong river at the pass connecting Phu Kao and Phu Phan mountains in Khon Kaen province.
Earlier on Oct 18, the reservoir held up to 2,893 million cu/m, or 118.99% of its capacity.
The situation caused authorities to quickly release water from the dam for safety reasons, though this cannot deter impacts on provinces located downstream, especially Khon Kaen's Nam Phong and Muang districts, which form the economic centre of the province.
Other nearby provinces including Roi Et and Maha Sarakham have also been affected by overflow from Nam Phong.
In northern Thailand, a heavy downpour on Monday night triggered mountain torrents, prompting the temporary closure of access to waterfalls in national parks.
A dark red current that ran into Mae Sa and Tat Mok waterfalls in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park sparked pollution fears and officials to seal off the areas Tuesday until the situation returned to normal.
Flash floods were also reported at Doi Inthanon National Park, forcing officials to close its Mae Klang waterfall.
The latest torrential rain in Chiang Mai also brought flooding to parts of Chom Thong district and prompted officials to track the situation around the clock.
In Chai Nat, downstream areas were warned to cope with run-off from the Chao Phraya River after the Chao Phraya dam Tuesday increased the discharge of water volume to 2,698 cu/m per second from 2,598 cu/m per second.
The increase in water volume came after water from the northern region flew into the dam in Sapphaya district at 3,044 cu/m per second, resulting in the rise of water levels upstream.
Downstream areas will be directly affected by the discharge of water which will result in a rise of water by 25 centimetres.
They are tambons Bang Luang, Sapphaya, Hat Asa, Pho Nang Dam Ok and Pho Nang Dam Tok which have been submerged under water for more than two weeks.
The water level downstream was measured at 16.03 metres above sea level Tuesday while the water level along upstream districts -- Muang, Wat Sing and Manorom -- rose by seven centimetres to 17.47 metres above sea level. In Sing Buri, Ang Thong and Ayutthaya, residents will also face a rise in water levels on Wednesday.
Currently, more than 2,800 houses are inundated while more than 16,000 rai of farmland are also devastated by flooding.
In Nonthaburi, Nonthaburi 1 Road was flooded on Tuesday by run-off from the Chao Phraya River, forcing motorists to use Phiboonsongkram Road instead.
Also in the same province, sandbag barriers were built along Bang Kwang Central Prison after parts of the structure were inundated by floodwater.
