Flood warning for 3 central provinces

>>The Royal Irrigation Department

(RID) has alerted three provinces in the Central region to be on guard for possible floods.

As the lower Chao Phraya River is still inundating riverside communities located outside the floodwalls, the RID must make use of idle areas above the Chao Phraya Dam to slow the water flow and help alleviate the problem, RID director-general Prapit Chanma said yesterday.

As a result, water levels in that area could rise to about 20 centimetres. This may affect three districts in Chai Nat — Wat Sing, Manorom and Muang — as well as Muang district of Uthai Thani and Phayuha Khiri district of Nakhon Sawan.

The provincial governor of Chai Nat has been asked to alert state agencies near the Chao Phraya River and Chao Phraya Dam to brace for more floods as water has spilled over the banks into the lower river area, flooding nearby communities outside the floodwalls, he said.

The RID was also planning to drain water from Pasak Jolasid Dam to the Chao Phraya River so it could handle more water from Phetchabun and Lop Buri, he added.

Meanwhile, Bangkok governor Aswin Kwanmuang said the flow of water in Ayutthaya’s Bang Sai district was measured at 3,010 cubic metres per second (m³/s).

Water levels at Bangkok’s Pak Khlong Talat flower market remain lower than the floodwalls, at 1.50 metres, he said. However, 11 communities in seven districts of the capital must closely monitor the situation.

They can check the website of its Drainage and Sewerage Department, he added.

In Ayutthaya, the Lop Buri River has inundated the Ayutthaya Elephant Palace and Royal Kraal in tambon Suan Prik since 1am, but all elephants have been safely relocated.

Rama VI Dam has accelerated its discharge rate to the Pa Sak River at 873 m³/s, resulting in lower areas of Tha Rua, Nakhon Luang and Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya districts being inundated.

In Nakhon Ratchasima, the water level at the Lower Lam Chiang Krai Dam has declined by 22%. The RID has expedited repair work on its damaged floodwall to be finished by Tuesday.

Mittraphap Road (Korat–Khon Kaen) remains submerged by floods but these are expected to recede within 2-3 days.