17 Provinces Including Chiang Rai Warned Over Torrential Rains and Flooding

 

CHIANG RAI – The Department of Meteorology has warned 17 provinces including Chiang Rai for torrential rain from today until Wednesday, which may trigger floods in few areas and exacerbate the situation in areas already inundated.

The 17 provinces include Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan, Mae Hong Son, Tak, Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Phetchaburi and Prachuap Khiri Khan, said Samroeng Saengphuwong, deputy secretary-general of Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR) in his capacity as director of the government’s temporary center for crisis management.

Several areas have already been being affected by overflows of water from major rivers such as Pasak River in Phetchabun and Prachin Buri River in Prachin Buri, he said.

At the same time, two large dams in Kanchanaburi will have to scale up draining excess water, which may cause worse flooding in the low-lying areas after these dams.

Vajiralongkorn Dam in Thong Pha Phum district will discharge 5 million cubic metres more of water per day, while Srinakarin Dam in Si Sawat district will increase the rate of water releasing by 6 million cu/m per day.

Elsewhere, several areas in Tha Uthen district of the northeastern province of Nakhon Phanom have been being flooded for close to a month now. More than 100 families are being affected and supplies of food there are reportedly running out.

The military is speeding up transporting by boat more flood relief to affected people. Floodwaters climbed over 1m in certain areas of the district including tambon Chaiyaburi.