Island splints for floods, mudslides
The Mineral Resources Department announced on Tuesday that Old Phuket Town is one of 49 locations that could be prone to flash storms or floods as the holiday island cooled down for another round of bad weather.
The ministry identified 49 “at-risk settlements”, including the old quarter and the Chartered Bank group, both famous places in Muang area.
The organization compared the risk of flooding and landslides to a mathematical type and regional data in order to identify the most susceptible villages and towns.
On Aug 23, heavy rains resulted in floods that killed 13 individuals, injured 19 people and damaged more than 50 properties. The Big Buddha statue on the top of Nak Koet’s hillside was replaced by a massive opening of trees in response.
Sophoc government of Phuket has instructed all organizations to plan for possible flash floods, discharge, and landslides with additional heavy weather and rough lakes forecast through Saturday.
In response to increasing rainfall in the North due to Tropical Storm Yagi, which is expected to reach Thailand on Friday, the Chao Phraya Dam in Chai Nat state in the Central Plains has increased its water drains level to 1,449 cubic meters per second. In addition, water levels in 11 regions in the Chao Phraya River Basin, including Bangkok, are expected to rise by up to 40 centimeters.
Thanet Somboon, director of the Royal Irrigation Department ( RID )’s Bureau of Water Management and Hydrology, revealed that the top of the northern and northeastern regions, including Chiang Rai, Phayao, Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen and Ubon Ratchathani, were recently hit by heavy rain in addition to the eastern region and the western part of the South.
He claimed that due to Tropical Storm Yagi, which is currently present in the Philippines, the meteorological agency of Japan had predicted that the northern edge of the Northeast, the eastern region, and the western region of the South would experience higher rainfall over the next seven days.
The storm is expected to affect Thailand on Friday, which will cause more rain to fall in the northern regions of the North and Northeast.
In response, Yom and Nan rivers ‘ water levels are expected to rise, which means that Phrae and Sukhothai must drain their water by Friday.
This storm, according to Mr. Thanet, would be the first of its kind to affect Thailand this year, though not directly, adding that it is typical in September.
He claimed that the Chao Phraya Dam had been reached by a mass of water coming from the north. Due to the dam’s already increased drainage rate, which has increased from 399 to 449 cubic meters per second, it will make an effort to limit its release.
Meanwhile, acting director-general of the RID, Det Lekwichai, warned the governors of 11 central provinces, namely Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Suphan Buri, Ayutthaya, Lop Buri, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan and Bangkok, to prepare for higher water levels, with those in some areas of Ang Thong and Ayutthaya likely to climb by between 25 and 40cm.