Trat authorities on Thursday told residents in at-risk areas to brace for flooding and mudslides due to continuous heavy rain set to hit several districts of the eastern province.
The Trat provincial irrigation office on Thursday morning began discharging water from downstream areas of Khao Rakham reservoir, a major basin in the province, into Khlong Bang Phra canal to reduce water volumes in upstream areas of the reservoir due to heavy rains.
Trat irrigation authorities on Thursday begin discharging water from Khao Rakham reservoir in Muang district into Khlong Bang Phra canal to prepare for heavy rains. (Photo by Jakkrit Waewkraihong)
Swollen by days of heavy rain, spillways of two reservoirs overflowed late Wednesday, flooding two villages in Trat’s Bo Rai district even as other areas of the country face water shortages. Flooding also hit the northern province of Tak.
Residents at Ban Dan Chumphon and Ban Thapthip Siam villages in tambon Dan Chumphon of this eastern province rushed to move their belongings to higher ground as runoff from Khlong Sanor and Huay Raeng reservoirs in Bo Rai district inundated their communities.
Flood water reached as high as 1.4 metres in the two villages, affecting some 30 houses. Some residents had to leave their flooded homes to stay with their relatives in other areas.
Flood-affected residents evacuate their belongings to higher ground after floods, triggered by days of heavy downpours, inundate their houses in Trat's Bo Rai district. (Photo by Jakkrit Waewkraihong)
Jiraporn Nomklang, a resident at Dan Chumphoon village, said heavy downpours had hit her village for three days and it rained heavily on Wednesday, casing the spillways of the two reservoirs to overflow.
The sudden flooding caught many residents and officials off guard, as floodwaters normally receded after the rain stopped. But this time it kept rising, said Ms Jiraporn. Worse still, heavy rains caused the spillways of the two reservoirs, which stored water for use during drought periods, to overflow.
Usa Khanphet, another affected resident, said her family had to live in their pickup truck as floodwaters inundated her shophouse after 6pm and water kept rising throughout the night.
Pol Maj Wutthipong Sopapong, chairman of Dan Chumphon tambon administration organisation, said five flat-bottomed boats were sent to evacuate flood-affected residents to safer areas.
Tak flooding
In northern Tak province, flooding, triggered by overnight heavy rain, hit Mae Sot municipality on Wednesday night.
Mae Sot municipality mayor Therdkiart Chinsoranand ordered municipal workers to urgently drain floodwaters at affected areas, particularly the Mae Sot fresh market.
The Meteorological Department has warned that tropical storm Kujira would cause heavy downpours in the Northeast.