AYUTTHAYA: Four districts in this central province have been inundated, with almost 8,000 households affected by accelerated discharges from the Chao Phraya Dam in recent days.
The floods have badly affected communities located along the Chao Phraya and Noi rivers and two canals, Khlong Bang Ban and Khlong Bang Luang in Bang Ban, Sena and Phak Hai and Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya districts, said Udomsak Khaonoonua, chief of the provincial disaster prevention and mitigation office.
A total of 204 villages in 35 tambons were flooded by water from 30-70 centimetres deep. In low-lying areas, water was as deep as one metre. Almost 8,000 households were affected, Mr Udomsak said on Saturday.
If the Chao Phraya Dam continued discharging water at the rate of 1,800 cubic metres per second, the floodwater level in the four districts was likely to increase by 50cm, he said.
Four schools, one mosque and four schools were also submerged. Vast agricultural areas, including banana and papaya orchards and other vegetable planting areas were also damaged, he said. Aside from this, fish being raised at 12 fish floating baskets in rivers were also affected. Damage was still being estimated, he said.