A night market on the banks of the Mekong river was under water. (Photo: VNA) Vientiane (VNA) - Waterlevels in the Mekong River have increased rapidly and areprojected to rise further over the next five days, especially from Chiang Khanto Khong Chiam in Thailand and from Vientiane to Savannakhet in Laos, according tothe Mekong River Commission (MRC).
Heavy rains across the Mekong region, which began on August5, have contributed to the rise, putting the river levels in most monitoringstations above their long-term indices, the commission said.
The average rainfall in the Lower Mekong River Basin (LMB) 0m August is expected to be 40% higher than itwas in the same period of 2021 and 2022.
Due to low pressure in the LMB, some parts of Laos and Thailandwere hit harder by flash floods last weekend, the MRC said, adding that thesituation has triggered water levels to rise and affected properties andlivelihoods.
In Thailand’s Chiang Khan, the station water level jumped from7.70m to 12.26m from August 1-8. A further rise of 0.50m is expected over thenext five days. Its alarm level is 14.5m.
The Lao capital of Vientiane saw its river level rise by 4.30m over thesame period, up by about 40%. Over the next five days, the river level isprojected to rise between 2.34m and 3.32m, which will put the station level inthe alarm state (11.5m), while the flood warning is 12.5m.
From Nakhon Phanom province in Thailand to Pakse province in Laos,the river levels rose by more than 2.50m and will see a rise of about 2m overthe next five days. As a result, the water level at Nakhon Phanom was forecastto reach its alarm level of 11.5m on August 10 and flood level (12m) on August11.
In Cambodia, water levels from the stretches in Stung Treng toKratrie increased from 0.92m to 2.59m over the same period. The levels arelikely to drop from 0.20m to 1m over the next five days.
In Vietnam’s Mekong Delta, the water levels at Tan Chau on theMekong River and Chau Doc on the Hau River were fluctuating and remained lower thantheir long-term values due to tidal effects.
According to the MRC, the Xayaubri hydropower located on themainstream of the Mekong River in Laos may release water, thus, downstreamcommunities are recommended to prepare for changes in river levels./.
