Severe flooding persists in East as new storms loom

Severe and widespread flooding continues in eastern Thailand, with rainfall forecast to increase from late this week and move to the South, while Bangkok is mostly dry, the government said on Thursday.

Chachoengsao, Nakhon Nayok and Prachin Buri were the most badly affected provinces in the East, while water levels had started to drop in Kabin Buri and Muang districts of Prachin Buri, government spokesman Ekkapob Pienpises told a briefing at Government House.

There is also a risk that heavy runoff from Nakhon Nayok and Prachin Buri may overflow the embankments of the Bang Pakong River in Chachoengsao, he added.

Paitoon Kengkarnchang, deputy secretary-general of the Office of National Water Resources, said rivers in the eastern provinces currently contained 2.1 billion cubic metres of water, most of which was flowing into the eastern reached of the Bang Pakong River.

Runoff is flowing down rapidly from hills in the eastern part of Chachoengsao towards the western side bordering Bangkok, overflowing embankments and reaching areas where Chachoengsao and Bangkok adjoin. However, the gates of canals in eastern Bangkok will be controlled so that they will not receive too much water from Chachoengsao.

Mr Paitoon said officials were also draining the water into seaside canals as fast as possible.

In Bangkok, deputy government spokeswoman Lalida Persvivatana said floodwater remained only on sections of Chalong Krung and Luang Phaeng roads but they were passable for vehicles.

She said 80 communities in the capital reported some flooding on Thursday — in Sai Mai, Nong Chok, Khlong Sam Wa, Khannayao, Bung Kum, Min Buri, Saphan Sung, Lat Krabang and Prawet districts.

Canals were full in Nong Chok, Bang Kapi and parts of Lat Phrao districts as they were receiving more water from Chachoengsao, she said.

Kriangkrai Sivasiriyangkun, water quality director for the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA), said City Hall was trying to drain floodwater from the 80 affected communities through sewers, canals and the Chao Phraya River.

He said conditions in the eastern communities should improve significantly next week, while all flood-related garbage would be collected in five days. The BMA has so far collected 3,118 tonnes of garbage caused by the severe flooding and collection was continuing at 346 tonnes a day. (Story continues below)

Huge piles of garbage left by the floods are seen in Lat Krabang district of Bangkok on Wednesday. (Photo: Bangkok Metropolitan Administration)

Chao Phraya manageable

Meanwhile, rainwater has been at manageable levels throughout the Chao Phraya River basin during the past few days. Dr Ekkapob, the government spokesman, said the discharge rate of the Chao Phraya dam in Chai Nat province was currently 2,350 cubic metres per second, still significantly above the level of 1,620 cu m/sec seen before the flooding began on Sept 23.

The level of the Chao Phraya above the barrage was 16.03 metres and it could be regulated to withhold future rainwater and lower the level of the river in downstream provinces including Greater Bangkok.

Water levels in Ayutthaya should decline by 10-20cm in the near future, while the Chao Phraya will also fall in Pathum Thani, Bangkok and Nonthaburi, he said.

The government spokesman confirmed a new round of rainfall was likely from Friday to Tuesday, with amounts increasing from Saturday to Monday, especially in the western region of Thailand. More rainfall is expected to follow in the South.

Meteorologist Wirongrong Sukha said it would rain on Friday in the lower Northeast, the East and the South. Heavy rain is expected in the southern provinces of Nakhon Si Thammarat, Phangnga, Ranong, Surat Thani, Songkhla and Yala.

On Saturday rain is forecast in the lower North, the lower Northeast, the Central Plains including Greater Bangkok, the East and the South. Heavy rain is likely in the southern provinces of Nakhon Si Thammarat and Phangnga.

On Sunday it will rain in the lower North, the Central Plains including Greater Bangkok, the East and the South. It will rain heavily in Chumphon, Phatthalung, Ranong, Satun, Songkhla and Surat Thani in the South.

On Monday heavy rain is forecast in the southern provinces of Nakhon Si Thammarat, Surat Tani and Trang. On Tuesday rain will intensify especially in the southern provinces of Ranong and Yala, Ms Wirongrong said.

For the western region, the government spokesman said rain would increase in Kanchanaburi on Saturday and Sunday but local dams would be able to withhold rainwater.

However, he advised people in Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi and Samut Songkhram provinces to follow flood warnings from local authorities. He recommended local residents keep their belongings on high ground.