Residents in provinces in both the upstream and downstream zones of the Chao Phraya barrage are being warned to brace for overflowing rivers and possible flooding due to persistent heavy rainfall brought on by tropical storm Pakhar.
Irrigation Office Region 12 director Suchart Chareonsri said yesterday the water volume flowing into the dam in Chai Nat will continue to increase due to the weakening storm, which left a monsoon trough lingering over the North and Central Plains.
The dam is predicted to receive the highest volume of water as a result of Pakhar next Monday when up to 2,014 cubic metres of water per second is expected to pass through it, he said.
Rising dam water is expected to cause a 30cm increase in water levels in upstream and downstream areas between Chai Nat's Manorom and Muang districts.
Mr Suchart said the barrage is discharging water at a rate of 1,500 cu/m per second.
This will cause water levels downstream to rise 10-15 cm in Chai Nat's Sapphaya district as well as in the three provinces of Sing Buri, Ang Thong and Ayutthaya, he said.
He urged residents in flood-prone areas to stay abreast of updates by the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD).
According to the TMD, residents in the North, the Central Plains, the East and the South were warned to prepare for heavy rains that could trigger flash floods.
Thongplew Kongchan, deputy director-general of the Royal Irrigation Department, said information from the Smart Water Operation Centre, which simulates weather patterns over a seven-day period, was also used in the weather forecast.
Rainfall was predicted to linger across the North, Northeast and the Central Plains due to the monsoon trough, he said, adding the Chao Phraya barrage will be used to help with water management to ensure rivers don't overflow and in a bid to preempt flooding.
In Ang Thong the Chao Phraya River was still rising.
Some residents in Pa Mok district who had evacuated to temporary roadside shelters moved back to their homes due to noise pollution from traffic.
In Ayutthaya, farmers sped up efforts to cultivate their rice from more than 600 rai of paddy fields as they prepared to receive flood water discharged by the irrigation office.
In Prachin Buri, around 20 houses in Prachantakham district were under one metre of floodwater triggered by heavy rainfall on Monday night.
Also, in the northern province of Mae Hong Son, a combined force of soldiers and rescue workers were sent to assist villagers in the three districts of Muang, Khun Yuam and Mae La Noi. They were inundated by flash floods following continued heavy downpours on Sunday.
Many roads were cut off by flash floods, landslides and large trees toppled by high winds.
In Tak's Phop Phra district, the Khirirat Tambon Administration Organisation deployed backhoes to clear laterite soil, which was swept along by floodwater and later blocked several roads in the tambon.
At Ruamthaipattana School in the same district a sandbag wall was built to prevent floodwater from entering the compound.
Than Bok Khorani waterfall in Krabi was also temporarily off-limits for tourists.
