AYUTTHAYA/CHAI NAT - Several communities in Bang Ban district of Ayutthaya have been flooded for the fourth time in three months following an increase in the discharge rate from the Chao Phraya Dam.
The dam in Chai Nat starting releasing water at 1,500 cubic metres per second, causing flooding in communities along the Chao Phraya River and two canals, Khlong Bang Ban and Khlong Bang Luang, said Chukiart Boonmee, mayor of Bang Ban tambon administration organisation in Bang Ban district.
Floodwater in six tambons - Ban Kum, Bang Ban, Sai Noi, Bang Chanee, Bang Hak and Bang Luang Dod - was about 50cm deep. Boats were the only mode of transport in the communities.
It is the fourth time this year the district has been flooded. The first time was in June, the mayor said.
The frequent flooding has harshly affected residents' lives, he said. Stagnant water has become a breeding ground for mosquitos, carriers of dengue haemorrhagic fever. Large areas of banana orchards have been damaged.
Northern runoff flowing into the Chao Phraya Dam reservoir was measured at 1,782 cu/m per second at Jiraprawat camp water station on Tuesday.
This lifted the water level in the upper part of the reservoir, in tambon Bang Luang of Chai Nat’s Sapphaya district, to 5.68 metres above mean sea level (MSL), prompting the damn management to increase the rate of discharge to 1,500 cu/m per second.
This increased the water level immediately downstream to 13.6m above MSL, the river rising at least 20cm from Sapphaya district down to Sing Buri, Ang Thong and Ayutthaya.
Communities in low-lying areas, particularly in tambon Bang Luang Dod and tambon Bang Ban, were advised to closely monitor water levels in their areas and follow official announcements.
The Chao Phraya Dam in Chai Nat. (Photo by Chudate Seehawong)
Tambon Ban Kum in Bang Ban district, Ayutthaya is flooded again after the Chao Phraya Dam increased the rate of water discharge. It is the fourth time they have been flooded since June. (Photo by Sunthorn Pongpao)