Khon kaen: Water levels in the Yom River are beginning to recede, and it is expected that the situation will improve within 48 hours. Meanwhile, farmers along the Phong River in Khon Kaen Province are in distress after the Ubonrat Dam’s urgent water release caused the embankment to collapse, inundating their rice fields. They are urgently calling for a long-term solution.
According to Thai News Agency, the Yom River level monitoring station, Station Y4, in front of the Sukhothai Governor’s Residence, is currently at 7.79 meters, decreasing at a rate of 1-2 centimeters per hour. Flooding in the western part of Sukhothai Thani Municipality and four communities-Khuha Suwan, Khlong Pho, Le Thai, and Ruam Phatthana-is expected to ease within 48 hours. Water levels around the Ban Hat Saphan Chan floodgate are also improving in the four lower districts of Sawankhalok, Si Samrong, Mueang, and Kong Krailat. Affected residents in Sukhothai Province are providing assistance and assessing the damage.
In Khon Kaen, villagers in Ban Klang Hung, Village No. 6, Non Thon Subdistrict, Mueang District, are facing severe hardship. The Phong River, which receives water from the Ubonrat Dam, caused the embankment to collapse, flooding rice fields over a wide area. Many villagers are helpless as the embankment continues to deteriorate. Despite efforts by Non Thon Subdistrict Municipality officials to block the water with sacks, the embankment collapsed three days ago.
Ms. Kamthip, a resident of Ban Nong Kha whose rice paddy borders the Phong River, reported that her 12 rai rice paddy has been extensively damaged by the floodwaters. She sowed her rice in July and was expecting a harvest soon. Though she is accustomed to flooding during the rainy season, the high water level and weak embankment this year were unable to withstand the deluge. Despite the Ubonrat Dam reducing its water discharge yesterday, it had been releasing 30 million cubic meters per day. She is urging relevant agencies to take action to address the issue.
Further downstream, in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, the water situation remains critical after the Chao Phraya Dam in Chainat Province released water at a rate of 2,500 cubic meters per second. This has caused water levels to rise in the Chao Phraya River, the Noi River, and several tributaries, affecting over 43,458 homes.
In Ang Thong Province, the water level continues to rise, inundating homes in Village No. 4, Phong Pheng Subdistrict, Pa Mok District. In some areas, the water has reached the second floor of houses for months, causing stress among villagers. The announcement to increase water drainage to no more than 2,700 million cubic meters per second has heightened concerns of further flooding and displacement.
The Central Region Irrigation Hydrology Center reports that the water flow through the Chao Phraya Dam in Chainat Province is at 2,500 million cubic meters per second, bringing the water level at the C7A water station in front of Ang Thong Provincial Hall to 9.11 meters/MSL, 10 meters above the embankment. Currently, 1,376 homes in Ang Thong are flooded.