Fresh flood warnings were issued for residents near the Chao Phraya and Pa Sak rivers in seven provinces of the Central Plain region on Wednesday, as dams increased the volume of water being discharged downstream.
The Royal Irrigation Department said people in low-lying and riverside areas would be affected in Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Chai Nat, Lop Buri, Sing Buri, Suphan Buri and Uthai Thani provinces.
Thongplew Kongjun, deputy director-general, said more rain was expected in the lower North and the upper Central Plain from Wednesday to Sunday, which would increase the run-off into the rivers.
Rate of discharge would have to be increased at the Chao Phraya dam in Chai Nat and Pa Sak Jolasid dam in Lop Buri.
Consequently, the level of the Chao Phraya River would rise by 50-70 centimetres downstream, and the Pa Sak River by 1-1.50 metres in Ayutthaya from between the Rama VI dam and the Chao Phraya.
Disaster mitigation officials in Ayutthaya reported that riverside communities in Bang Ban, Bang Pa-in, Bang Sai, Pak Hai, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya and Sena districts were 0.50-1.50 metres under water and more than 18,000 families in 425 villages were affected.