Central Plains floods easing, risk moving South

Floods contiue to dominate parts of Bangkok and 27 provinces, mostly in the Central Plains, but the risk is moving southwards with the approach of the annual northeast monsoon.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported on Tuesday that flooding in the North, Central Plains and East was still affecting about 3.14 million people.

In the North, floods remained in parts of Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Nakhon Sawan, Nan, Phayao and Tak provinces, but levels were lower there.

In the Central Plains, floods were receding in Uthai Thani, Lop Buri, Kanchanaburi, Saraburi and Nakhon Pathom. Floodwater was stable in Phetchaburi and Chai Nat but was rising in Sing Buri, Ratchaburi, Suphan Buri, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani and Samut Songkhram.

In the East, flood levels were stable in Nakhon Nayok, lower in Chon Buri, Prachin Buri and Rayong, but deeper in Chachoengsao. There were reports of people trying to destroy floodwalls between Nakhon Nayok and Prachin Buri. Floodwater naturally flows from Nakhon Nayok through Prachin Buri and Chachoengsao to the sea via the Bang Pakong River.

Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said flood drainage was difficult in Prachin Buri and Chachoengsao and stagnant water there had become polluted.

He also said the southern provinces were preparing for flooding, with heavy rain expected as the annual monsoon moves in.

Disasters department chief Nirat Pongsitthithaworn said workers would speed up flood drainage into the Bang Pakong River and relieve the stress on people in Chachoengsao, Nakhon Nayok and Prachin Buri.

He said the floodwater was receding in Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi provinces, flowing to Samut Songkhram through the Mae Klong River. The flood surge in the Chao Phraya River had already flowed past Bangkok into the Gulf of Thailand.

On Tuesday the prime minister ordered officials to speed up distribution of compensation for flood victims. He said at least 1.2 million people had already registered for assistance in Bangkok and 59 provinces. About 529,000 of them lived in the capital city.