Thai river swells to dangerously high levels

Kaeng Krachan Dam in Phetchaburi province overflows again yesterday at 775.513 million cubic metres – or 109 per cent of its full capacity of 710 million cubic metres.

PETCHABURI, Thailand — The water level in the Phetchaburi River is rising dangerously throughout its stretch from the overwhelmed Kaeng Krachan Dam. Located in Phetchaburi’s Kaeng Krachan district, the dam is now 109 percent full and 22.46 million cubic meters of water are being released every day into the river.

“The river’s water level has already reached a critical point in the province’s Tha Yang district,” Thaiwater.net reported yesterday afternoon.Developed by the Hydro and Agro Informatics Institute, the website also listed the Kaeng Krachan Dam as in a crisis situation. Up to 30.64 million cubic meters of water flowed into the dam yesterday.

From the dam, the Phetchaburi River runs through Tha Yang, Ban Lat, Muang and Ban Laem districts before draining into the sea. Although several resorts around the dam have already suffered damage from floodwater, relevant authorities still hope the water situation will be manageable as the rain has already stopped.

Downpours associated with the Bebinca tropical storm have ceased since it moved from Thailand to Myanmar.

“The river’s water level in Phetchaburi’s Muang district is still 50 centimeters below the banks,” Deputy Phetchaburi Governor Nattawut Phetpromsorn said. “So if there is no more rain, we should be able to prevent floods in most areas.”

He explained that some amount of water from the dam had been diverted into canals.

“So, just about 130 cubic meters of water is flowing through the river. This amount is within the river’s capacity,” he said.

In Nan province yesterday, several areas remained flooded in the wake of heavy rain caused by Bebinca.

“The flood crisis in Nan town has already ebbed but we are still worried about the situation in Phu Phiang district,” said Nan Governor Paisan Wimonrut.

He said the worst-hit villages were now under several metres of water and hundreds of families were struggling without electricity as inundation had disrupted public services.

The local weather bureau, meanwhile, has warned of more rain across the Kingdom, urging the public to beware of runoffs and flash floods.

According to latest reports from the Meteorological Department, heavy precipitation can be expected in the North, East, western part of the central plains and the upper part of the South. Warnings of runoffs and flash floods were also issued for these regions. Waves in the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand have been forecast to be two to three meters high. Ships have been warned to proceed with caution, while small vessels have been told stay ashore until Friday.

Meanwhile, the ad-hoc centre monitoring the ongoing flood crisis has echoed the Meteorological Department’s report, saying Bebinca storm and the southwestern monsoon are still exerting an influence on at least 18 provinces: Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang, Sukhothai, Kamphaeng Phet, Tak, Ratchaburi, Kanchanaburi, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chanthaburi, Trat, Chumphon, Ranong, Phang Nga and Phuket.