Rising Mekong water levels a concern in Nakhon Phanom province

Nakhon Phanom province is facing rising water levels on the Mekong River, with the latest level reaching 11 metres. 

On Friday morning, the water level was measured at 10.77 metres, an increase of 17 centimetres, prompting the need to monitor the situation closely as overflow could affect more than 30,000 rai of rice fields in the area.

Chairat Sreenonthong, director of the National Water Resources Office (ONWR) Region 3, along with officials from the Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office and Military Circle, visited the area to assess the situation. They surveyed Phaya Si Sattanakharat Park and the water-level monitoring station in Nong Saeng subdistrict.

The ONWR Region 3 reported that heavy rainfall over the past week in the upper northern and upper northeastern regions has led to water from the Xayaburi Dam in Laos flowing into the Mekong River at a rate of 17,000 cubic metres per second, causing the water level to rise continuously. This could potentially impact low-lying areas, agriculture, roads, and riverside communities.

Chairat said the water mass from the upper areas flowing into Nakhon Phanom province is not expected to cause severe problems, as the water levels upstream have started to decrease. However, close monitoring is still necessary. The water level in Nakhon Phanom is expected to rise by no more than 40 centimetres. 

The province has prepared to manage the situation by coordinating with government agencies, military units, and local administrative organisations. 

Warnings have been issued to residents in at-risk riverside areas to prepare and closely follow water-level updates. 

Farmers, in particular, should take precautions to protect their crops from potential flood damage.

Nakhon Phanom has already declared disaster zones in two districts: Si Songkhram and Na Thom. About 38,000 rai of agricultural land has been flooded, with an estimated 31,000 rai expected to suffer damage.