Residents of 33 provinces in the North, Northeast, East and lower Central Plains, including Bangkok and vicinity, have been told to prepare for heavy rain and gusty winds until Monday.
A strong high-pressure system from China is expected to cover upper Thailand until Thursday, said Chayaphon Thitisak, chief of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation. The system will bring strong winds and heavy rain that could trigger river overflows and flash floods in some areas on Sunday and Monday, he added.
He has been coordinating with authorities in 33 provinces that the Meteorological Department has advised to be on full alert for heavy rain and possible flooding.
The 33 provinces include nine in the North (Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Phayao, Lampang, Phrae, Nan and Tak), eight in the Northeast (Loei, Nong Bua Lam Phu, Udon Thani, Nong Khai, Bung Kan, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom and Khon Kaen), 11 in the Central Plains (Nakhon Sawan, Chai Nat, Ang Thong, Sing Buri, Ayutthaya, Lop Buri, Saraburi, Uthai Thani, Suphan Buri, Kanchanaburi and Ratchaburi) and five in the East (Prachin Buri, Nakhon Nayok, Sa Kaew, Chachoengsao and Chanthaburi).
Bangkok and surrounding provinces can also expect strong winds and heavy downpours in some areas during this period, Mr Chayaphon said on Saturday.
The department has deployed teams of officials to closely monitor water conditions and levels so that rescue operations can be mounted swiftly if needed. Flood prevention measures are being put in place, with flood walls reinforced and more water pumps installed in areas prone to flooding and those in strategic economic zones, he said.
He urged residents in areas at risk of flooding to stay abreast of water updates from state agencies.
In Khon Kaen, twenty-five houses and more than 1,500 rai of farmland in tambon Tha Phra of Muang district were inundated on Saturday as the Chi River continued to rise. The water in the river was measured at 9.15 metres on Saturday, an increase of 3cm from Friday.
Prasit Tatinit, deputy chairman of the tambon Tha Phra administration, said 25 households in Nong Pla Kheng village were affected on Saturday by the river's rise. Some residents were taken to a shelter set up by the municipality.
The Meteorological Department said the strong high-pressure area covering southern China was expected to move through Vietnam and Laos overnight and extend into northeastern Thailand on Sunday. As conditions have been hot and humid, thundershowers, gusty winds and heavy rain are expected until Monday in the North, Northeast, East and lower Central Plains.
From Tuesday through Thursday, the royal cremation day in Bangkok, more rain with isolated heavy showers is expected in the South, while there will be less rain the upper part of the country, said the department.
The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office says the flooding that ravaged several provinces from Oct 10-21 was still persisting in 16 provinces: Tak, Sukhothai, Phichit, Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Phetchabun, Lop Buri, Nong Bua Lam Phu, Khon Kaen, Maha Sarakham, Kalasin and Roi Et.
More than 25 houses along the Chi River in tambon Tha Phra in Khon Kaen are submerged. (Photo by Jakkraphan Nathanri)