NAN: Torrential rains triggered by tropical storm Talas, which is now battering central Vietnam, have caused flash floods in several parts of this northern province.
The provincial office of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department yesterday reported that small rivers connecting to the Nan River had risen rapidly and overflowed their banks, causing flooding in at least three districts.
In Phu Phiang district, the Bang Tha Lo-Saeng Doa Road in tambon Fai Kaeo was covered with water about half a metre deep, making it impassable.
At least 20 houses in a low-lying area close to the river had flooded.
Nannakorn School in tambon Na Pang of Phu Phiang district had been temporarily evacuated and closed, according to the office.
In Pua district, the first floor of a building at Bansan School in tambon Sathan was also flooded as of yesterday morning.
Teachers and students of the school had to move their belongings, books and teaching materials to higher ground.
In Mae Charim district, strong flood currents tore apart a main bridge in Ban Nam Tuang in tambon Nam Phang, cutting the main transport route for the community.
The disaster office was closely monitoring the situation. People living near waterways were warned to prepare for further flooding and listen for updates.
In neighbouring Chiang Rai province, Bang Thung Luang School in Muang district was closed by flooding that began around 5am, reports said. There had been torrential rain overnight.
Water levels in the Kok River, Sai River and Mekong River in Chiang Rai rose almost to their banks yesterday.
In Lampang, Kriengsak Saengyunont, the Wang Nua district chief, said he ordered his officers to keep a close watch on the situation in waterways in the district after heavy rain continued for several days.
In Bangkok, authorities in charge of flood management in Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Prakan and Chachoengsao met yesterday at the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) seeking ways of draining high-volume water to downstream provinces.
They agreed to set up a six-party committee and will meet again next Monday for a brainstorming session.
In Ayutthaya, a committee dealing with flooding will ask the Royal Irrigation Department to divert northern runoff to farmland that needs the water.
The provincial committee's proposal is for the department to cut the rate of discharge from the Chao Phraya dam in Chai Nat province draining into the Chao Phraya River and lower Noi River in Ayutthaya, provincial governor Rewat Prasong said.
Instead, the department could consider diverting excess water into the Chai Nat-Pa Sak canal so it drains into the Pa Sak River.
It could then flow into the area downstream of Rama VI dam in Tha Rua district of Ayutthaya, which can handle 350 cubic metres more water per minute without flooding the nearby communities, he said.
The North, East, Central Plains and Bangkok have been warned to brace for heavy rain.