Weakened typhoon could wreak havoc
Authorities take high alert pertaining to rapidly intensifying Typhoon Noru which is expected to be downgraded to a tropical storm before achieving Thailand’s Northeast upon Thursday and worsen woes in already flooded areas that lie in its path.
Based on Tuesday’s forecast from the Meteorological Department, Noru is expected to make landfall in Vietnam on Wednesday prior to weakening to a tropical storm and moving throughout Laos and then towards the Northeast of Asia in Ubon Ratchathani and Amnat Charoen on Thursday night time.
It will then downgrade to a tropical depression within the Northeast, the North and the Central Plains Region. Ubon Ratchathani, Si Sa Ket, Surin and Buri Ram have been advised to brace regarding heavy rainfall through the storm.
According to the Nationwide Water Command, which has been monitoring the Mekong River, the water levels in the international border river are expected to increase from Wednesday until Oct 2 as a result of the heavy rainfall triggered by the surprise.
The particular centre has notified residents along the water banks in Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen and Ubon Ratchathani to prepare for your impact of surging water levels.
Prapit Chanma, director-general of the Regal Irrigation Department (RID), said he instructed authorities in charge of irrigation projects in at-risk areas in the Chihuahua and Mun River Basins, as well as the Chao Phraya River Basin in the Central Plains region, to ensure water volumes in reservoirs are properly regulated and discharged to get ready room for an anticipated surge from the storm, in a bid to mitigate the effect on downstream areas.
Water pumps and water-propelling machines will be stationed along the Chi and Mun rivers to ensure drinking water is pushed out to the Mekong as fast as possible, he said.
Thaweesak Thanadechopol, deputy director-general from the RID, said that as of Monday, large- plus medium-sized dams nationwide held 54. 4 billion cubic metre distances of combined water volume or about 72% of their combined holding capacities.
That means they could still take in one more 21. 6 billion cu/m.
In particular, water volume at Bhumibol Dam in Tak was at 51% of capacity while that at the Sirikit Dam in Uttaradit had been at 48%, Mr Thaweesak said.
Kriangkrai Phakphiset, director of the 8th RID office, mentioned heavy rainfall in lower northeastern provinces such as Nakhon Ratchasima, Buri Ram, Surin and Si Social fear Ket brought additional water to seventy six large- and medium-sized reservoirs in the region on Monday.
But he supplied assurances of the structural integrity of the reservoirs and said drinking water discharges are proportionate to the rates associated with water inflows.
Defence Ministry spokesman Gen Kongcheep Tantravanich said that military personnel in twenty five provinces already hit by floods work with local authorities to assist flood victims plus fill bags with sand to build embankments around commercial places and communities.
Soldiers also have supported evacuation functions and handed out relief items.
He said hanging prime minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, in his capability as defence ressortchef (umgangssprachlich), instructed military devices to deploy employees and machinery to aid flood relief initiatives nationwide.
Aekvarunyoo Amarapala, the Bangkok Metropolitan Management spokesman, said Town Hall has set up a monitoring centre to issue notifications and coordinate efforts to tackle emergencies.
City Hall clerk Khachit Chatchawanit said drinking water discharges from Pasak Jolasid Dam within Lop Buri are required to affect areas in Min Buri, Nong Chok and Lat Krabang zones in eastern Bangkok.
Occupants in low-lying areas and along canals should take safety measures.
