Bangkok (VNA) – Riverside communities in 11 provinces in the Chao Phraya River basin, including Bangkok, have been warned to prepare for possible flooding as the Chao Phraya Dam in Chai Nat province will increase its rate of water discharge.
The Thai media on September 26 reported that the Royal Irrigation Department will gradually increase the amount of water released through the Chao Phraya Dam to 2,000 cubic metre per second (m3/s) from the current 1,498 m3/s due to continued heavy rains and flows from the North.
Together with Bangkok, the other affected provinces are Uthai Thani, Chainat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Suphan Buri, Ayutthaya, Lop Buri, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi and Samut Prakan.
According to local authorities, the draining of excess water downstream through the dam will, however, be done step-by-step.
The draining will raise the water level in the Phong Pheng canal in Ang Thong province, as well as the Bang Ban canal and Noi river in Ayutthaya province by 1-1.5 metres. The rising water levels will cause overflows of canals and rivers branching out from these waterways./.
