Ayutthaya braces for river flooding

Discharges to raise Chao Praya amounts

Ayutthaya governor, Veerachai Nakmas, has instructed associated agencies to brace for huge secretions of water to the Chao Phraya.

Mr Veerachai, the Disaster Avoidance and Mitigation Workplace and the Ayutthaya Provincial Irrigation Office were among those keeping close tabs yesterday upon water-measurement stations from riverside locations for example Siriyalai Palace, Wat Chaiwatthanaram and Wat Kasatrathirat Worawihan.

The Ayutthaya branch of the Internal Security Operations Order (Isoc) and the Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya district chief also assisted with the combined surveillance efforts.

The water sources office has gradually increased the amount of drinking water discharged from the Chao Phraya Dam through 1, 500 cubic metres per second (m³/s) to 1, 550 m³/s since Wednesday. As a result, water levels in the Noi Lake in Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya district have risen regarding 10 centimetres.

Mr Veerachai said riverside residents were starting to be affected, with some areas already submerged. The state has been instructed to examine risk-prone areas which includes historical sites, temples, economic zones, industrial estates, and nearby communities.

Authorities have setup a war space to monitor the situation 24 / 7 and provide prompt notifications. Anyone affected by floods can contact all of them via the 1784 servicenummer.

By today the economic areas and specific zones, historical sites plus inner parts of the town remain unaffected, Mr Veerachai said.

Last week, a southwest monsoon caused downpours leading to a rise in water within the Pa Sak Jolasid Dam in Lop Buri province.

Thaweesak Thana-dachopol, deputy director-general of the Royal Irrigation Section (RID), said this expected to see 133. 26 million m³ of water build up due to the downpours flowing into the dam during Aug 24-30.

The section expects the dam will have to contend with a total of 355 million m³ of drinking water. The department will gradually reduce the drinking water in the dam as it also prepares for your next deluge from the North.

It said it plans to increase the discharge rate through 34. 56 mil m³ today to 43. 20 million m³ starting the next day.

Later on, the department may control the volume associated with water flowing in the dam together with the water from Chai Nat and Pa Sak rivers and approach it into Rama VI Dam in Ayutthaya.

It will discharge water at a rate of six hundred m³/s, resulting in water level rising 1-1. 5 meters within the section of Pa Sak River that goes by through Tha Ruea district before conference the Chao Phraya in Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya region.