Accelerate repairs to Huai Chiang Kham reservoir, affecting more than ten thousand rai of agricultural land

Maha Sarakham, Officials rushed to repair Huai Chiang Kham Reservoir in Borabue District, Maha Sarakham Province after the reservoir burst, causing a mass of water to overflow and flood agricultural areas, affecting people in 4 sub-districts. At 5:00 PM yesterday (July 16), the mass of water flowing out of Huai Chiang Kham Reservoir into the agricultural areas of villagers in Borabue District, Maha Sarakham Province was caused by the large amount of water exceeding the reservoir's capacity due to continuous heavy rain in the area for several days, causing the Huai Chiang Kham Reservoir's spillway to be eroded, causing the earthen dam of the spillway to break for a length of approximately 50 meters, resulting in the mass of water overflowing into the agricultural areas and homes of villagers over a wide area, and flowing into 4 sub-districts: Yang Sub-district, Kamphi Sub-district, Don Ngua Sub-district, and Nong Muang Sub-district, causing over 5 million cubic meters of water and 116% of the excess capacity to flow out throughout the night. This morning, the Borabue District Chief entered the area to command and resolve the situation before giving information that the water mass is now dry after the entire reservoir has drained. The latest report found that approximately 10,000 rai of agricultural damage has been found in 4 sub-districts, but the water has not flooded. The district has been preparing all along and has informed the villagers to be ready. However, there has been no damage to the lives of local residents in the area. The Royal Irrigation Department has been contacted to drain water to the Xiao River as quickly as possible to reduce the impact, including surveying and providing assistance to the people as quickly as possible. The repair process will include adding soil around the damaged area to dry up the water, and will begin repairing the road so that the villagers can travel. Villagers who came to observe reported that in their 60 years of life, they had never experienced a water reservoir bu rst, damaging 4 rai of rice fields that they had just planted. They wanted the authorities to quickly provide assistance and compensation for the crops that had been planted. Source: Thai News Agency