Residents of nine at-risk tambons in Sri Songkhram district of Nakhon Phanom on alert
NAKHON PHANOM: Two major tributaries of the Mekong River have burst their banks, flooding about 4,000 rai of paddy fields in Sri Songkhram district of this northeastern province.
The water level of the Mekong in Nakhon Phanom on Saturday was about 8 metres, or 4m below the spill-over level of 12m. But water in the Nam Oun and Nam Songkhram rivers through Na Wa, Sri Songkhram and Tha Uthen districts has risen, particularly in Sri Songkhram, where the two tributaries meet before flowing into the Mekong.
Because the flow into the Mekong was slow, water in the two tributaries, which can hold about 7.5 million cubic metres, exceeded their capacity by 30%, causing overflows into low-lying areas of Sri Songkhram. About 3,000 to 4,000 rai of off-season paddy growing areas and about 400 to 500 rai of in-season paddy fields were inundated.
Some 20 houses along the banks of the Sri Songkhram River were also flooded, said Sitthikorn Somboonphrom, assistant district chief for security of Sri Songkhram.
Continuous heavy downpours have been causing water in the Mekong River to rise. When the tributaries burst their banks, it sent a huge amount of water into low-lying areas, he added.
Thawat Phromsopha, chief of Sri Songkhram district, on Saturday instructed authorities in nine at-risk tambons to issue flood warnings to local residents. Residents in at-risk areas have been told to move their belongings and animals to higher ground and to have animal feed safely stockpiled to prevent damage if sudden floods occur.
A local woman points to the Nam Songkhram River, a Mekong tributary in Nakhon Phanom. (Photo: Pattanapong Sripiachai)