Bangkok, ONWR has issued a warning to watch out for flash floods and flash floods between 18 - 25 May, along with emphasizing measures for the 2024 rainy season, which is now close to being officially announced as the rainy season. It's official. Plan to drain dams at risk of overflowing. Check and maintain the water barrier and warning system to ensure maximum readiness. Mr. Paitoon Kengkarnchang, Deputy Secretary-General of the National Water Resources Office (ONWR), said that from monitoring the weather conditions, it was found that Currently, there is a strong low pressure area covering Mataban Bay. Myanmar As a result, the southwest winds will become stronger. Causing the northern, eastern and southern regions to have heavy to very heavy rain, the ONWR has therefore issued an announcement. Warning to watch out for flash floods and flash floods between 18 - 25 May for various agencies concerned to monitor and provide warnings to people in risky areas in 26 provinces as follows: The northern region incl udes Chiang Mai Province (Fang, Omkoi and Chom Thong districts) Mae Hong Son Province (Mueang Mae Hong Son District, Mae Sariang and Sop Moei) Lampang Province (Ko Kha, Thoen and Mae Phrik Districts) Lamphun Province (Mueang Lamphun District) Uttaradit Province (Tron District) Tak Province (Tha Song Yang District and Mae Ramat) Sukhothai Province (Mueang Sukhothai District and Si Satchanalai) Nan Province (Pua District, Bo Kluea, Chiang Klang, Thung Chang, Tha Wang Pha, Chaloem Phra Kiat and Song Kwae) Phrae Province (Wang Chin District) Phitsanulok Province (Nakhon Thai District and Noen Maprang) Phetchabun Province (Mueang Phetchabun District and Khao Kho) 2. Eastern region includes Chonburi Province (Mueang Chonburi and Sriracha District) Rayong Province (Mueang Rayong District) Chanthaburi Province (Mueang Chanthaburi District, Makham, Khlung, and Pong Nam Ron) Trat Province (Mueang Trat District, Khao Saming and Bo Rai) 3. Southern region includes Chumphon Province (Tha Sae and Phato Di stricts) Ranong Province (Mueang Ranong, Kapoe, La-un, Suksamran and Kra Buri districts) Phang Nga Province (Mueang Phang Nga District, Khura Buri, Takua Pa, Kapong and Thai Mueang) Phuket Province (Mueang Phuket District, Kathu and Thalang) Krabi Province (Mueang Krabi District, Khao Phanom, Ao Luek, Khlong Thom, Plai Phraya, and Koh Lanta) Surat Thani Province (Mueang Surat Thani District, Phanom, Ban Ta Khun and Koh Phangan) Satun Province (Mueang Satun District, Khuan Don, Khuan Kalong, Thung Wa and Manang) Trang Province (Mueang Trang District, Palian, Na Yong, Kantang, Huai Yot, Hat Samran, Ratsada and Wang Wiset) Phatthalung Province (Pa Bon and Tamode Districts) Songkhla Province (Sadao District) Nakhon Si Thammarat Province (Chang Klang District, Phipun, Chawang, Thung Yai and Tham Phannara) ONWR also meets with various agencies, including the Meteorological Department. Water Resources Information Institute (Public Organization) (Water Resources Department) Department of Mineral Resources, Royal Irrigation Department Metropolitan Waterworks Authority Provincial Waterworks Authority Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (Disaster Prevention and Mitigation), etc. Currently, Thailand is in the transition period from the El Niño condition to the La Niña condition and close to entering the official rainy season in Thailand that is expected. The Meteorological Department is close to officially announcing the rainy season. It is expected that during the first 3 months of the rainy season there will not be much rainfall. In addition, the dry ground during the dry season will absorb rainwater that falls, resulting in not much water flowing into the reservoir. which has already prepared reserve water costs for that period The amount of rain will begin to increase from August. In October, there will be heavy rain in the southern region. NBTC urges all agencies to prepare to deal with the situation according to 10 measures to deal with the rainy se ason of 2024 and the flood prevention and resolution plan. A plan has been made to adjust the drainage in the basin. that are at risk of overflowing such as Ubonrat Dam, Khon Kaen Province, Bang Lang Dam, Yala Province, Vajiralongkorn Dam, Kanchanaburi Province, etc. and the said drainage plan will be presented to the River Basin Committee for consideration. Emphasizing the agency's management of water in the basin. to be consistent with the situation Speed up inspection of the stability of various water barriers. To prepare for the event of flooding from heavy rain. There will also be a joint rehearsal with warning agencies such as the Department of Water Resources. To take care of the preparation of tools to the alarm system and the preparation of the Flood Response Plan by the Provincial Waterworks Authority. The Provincial Waterworks Authority has coordinated with all provinces to prepare flood response plans in line with the rainy season response measures. In addition, ONCB Will practice understanding in preparing to deal with situations in the rainy season together with the provincial governor as the chairman of the watershed committee. In order to prevent and mitigate the impacts on the people as efficiently as possible. For water management during the upcoming rainy season, we continue to instruct agencies to plan water use by taking into account the amount of water in the next dry season to prevent the risk of water shortages. Including considering the possibility of high sea levels during the dry season, which will cause salinity to invade rivers or canals, and the amount of water needed to be used to push up the salinity to maintain water quality. In the standard criteria as well. 512 - Thai News Agency Source: Thai News Agency