Bangkok (VNA) – Thailand’s authorities have issued flood warnings for five northeastern provinces where the rapidly rising Mekong River can burst its banks.
Thailand’s Office of the National Water Resources said on September 17 that a huge volume of floodwater was flowing downstream and could cause flooding this week in Bung Kan, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Amnart Charoen and Ubon Ratchathani provinces.
Many parts of Nong Khai province have already been inundated by overflow from the swollen Mekong. The municipal area in Muang district is among the worst flooded. All business there has been brought to a standstill over the past few days.
Residents and vendors along the Mekong banks have been advised to move to higher ground and Nakhon Phanom stadium has been prepared for use as a temporary shelter if needed.
Meanwhile, Thai Foreign Affairs Minister Maris Sangiampongsa is in talks with Myanmar authorities to find mutual ways to mitigate the flood situation in the region.
He said that the current flood situation is affecting all countries along the Mekong River, noting Myanmar's Tachileik border town has been struck by the most catastrophic flooding in 30 years.
To prevent flooding in the long run, the minister said he is preparing to propose further cooperation in water management through the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation framework./.
