Srettha to discuss water management plan as floods hit 11 provinces
Several North and Northeastern areas receiving rains since Tuesday
Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin has called a meeting on Monday (August 5) with officials of concerned agencies to discuss water management plans after continuous downpours inundated some areas in 11 provinces, the Royal Irrigation Department said on Friday.
According to weather reports, several provinces in the North and Northeast regions have been experiencing heavy rains since Tuesday this week, which are expected to continue until Sunday, department director-general Chuchart Rakjit said.
The impact of the La Niña weather phenomenon has brought heavy rains to several regions of Thailand since early July, he added.
The department had been monitoring the water situation closely and ordered mid-sized reservoirs to gradually discharge water to prepare for additional rains, said Chuchart.
The department had also prepared water pumps and other flood relief equipment in risky areas in case of flash floods, and continuously issued updates to communities so they could evacuate in time, he added.
Initial surveys by the department revealed the extent of flooding in 11 provinces:
1. Maha Sarakham - 3,050 rai (488 hectares) affected in 2 districts
2. Roi Et - 7,080 rai (1,132.8 hectares) in 3 districts
3. Kalasin - 7,400 rai (1184 hectares) in 2 districts
4. Yasothon - 1,922 rai (307.52 hectares) in 1 district
5. Ubon Ratchathani - 150 rai (24 hectares) in 1 district
6. Prachin Buri, 1 district
7. Chanthaburi, 4 districts
8. Trat, 1 district
9. Chachoengsao, 1 district
10. Nakhon Nayok, 1 district
11. Ayutthaya, 1 district
The department also reported that large and medium reservoirs in Thailand are now at around 55% capacity, or having 42.19 billion cubic metres of water, and can receive around 34.14 billion cubic metres more.
The four major dams in the Chao Phraya River Basin (Bhumibol, Sirikit, Kwai Noi Bumrung Dan, and Pa Sak Jolasid) are now at 41% capacity (10.13 billion cubic metres) and can receive about 14.73 billion cubic metres more.
