The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department is warning people in low-lying areas of five provinces downstream from Ubonrat Dam to prepare for flooding and finish harvesting their crops.
The five provinces are Khon Kaen, Nong Bua Lamphu, Maha Sarakham, Kalasin and Roi Et.
Chatchai Promlert, the department chief, said because of continuous rain earlier this month Ubonrat Dam now has about 2,532 million cubic metres of water in storage, or 104% of its capacity.
As a result, areas around the dam's reservoir -- Non Sang and Si Bunruang districts of Nong Bua Lamphu province and Muang, Nong Nakham, Nong Rua, Phu Wiang, Nam Phong and Ubonrat districts of Khon Kaen -- have been flooded and their farmland inundated.
Offices in Khon Kaen and Udon Thani have been ordered to help farmers in the affected areas harvest their rice and other produce and move to higher ground.
A large volume of water is being discharged from the dam. People in low-lying areas in the five provinces below should prepared for possible flooding by moving their belongings to safe areas, building floodwalls, installing water pumps and harvesting their farm produce as soon as possible.