Khon Kaen flooding worsens

Khon Kaen flooding worsens

An aerial view shows a flooded area in Khon Kaen's Muang district on Sunday. (Chakraphan Nathanri)
An aerial view shows a flooded area in Khon Kaen's Muang district on Sunday. (Chakraphan Nathanri)

KHON KAEN: Flooding has spread in this northeastern province, with a village of about 150 houses and 5,000 rai of ricefields now under water.

The floods came after Ubonrat Dam on Sunday began to discharge water at the rate of 46 million cubic metres per day.

According to a water management plan, the dam will increase water discharge to 50 million cu/m per day from Monday, Oct 16.

Ubonrat Dam management has been forced to release more water as the reservoir is now holding 2,843 million cu/m of water - 116% of its full capacity - causing widespread flooding.

Winai Thongthap, the kamnan of tambon Phra Lap in Muang district, said the water levels in the Phong and Chi rivers have continued to rise.  The Phong River has overflowed into the Phra Khu stream and Phue, Pak Puay, Khui Pho and Bung Niam villages.

At Ban Phue alone, 150 houses and 5,000 rai of ricefields have been flooded.

"Before the dam increased the water discharge, people were warned to move their belongings to higher ground,"  Mr Winai said.

"Tambon Phra Lap has coordinated with district authorities to prepare a facility to accommodate flood evacuees and set up mobile units to dispatch relief items to flood-hit people." 

(Bangkok Post video)

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