Residents throughout the North, Northeast, Central Plains and South have been told to brace for heavy rain and high waves as a tropical depression moves across the country from Monday through Thursday.
The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department is coordinating efforts with its offices in 49 provinces to be on full alert for heavy downpours and strong winds and waves, director-general Chayaphol Thitisak said on Saturday.
Officials of the provincial offices have been asked to closely monitor rain volume and warn local residents living in at-risk areas of danger from natural disaster.
The Meteorological Department on Saturday forecast isolated heavy downpours in northern and northeastern provinces on Monday and Tuesday, as a tropical depression over the South China Sea moves inland.
The storm is moving northeast slowly and is expected to be over upper Vietnam on Monday and Tuesday. Residents living in flood-prone areas of the North and Northeast have been advised to be alert for runoff, overflowing rivers and landslides.
A strong southwest monsoon, meanwhile, prevails over the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. Strong winds and high waves of 2-4 metres are expected in the Andaman. All ships should proceed with caution, while small boats should remain ashore, the Meteorological Department said.
People living in western coastal areas of the South, as well as residents of eastern provinces, should beware of strong winds during this period, it said.
As many as 107 reservoirs nationwide are approaching maximum holding capacity as technicians race against time to drain them before further storms arrive.
In Kanchanaburi, the Vajiralongkorn Dam overflowed this week, sending out a large volume of water that flooded properties alongside the reservoir. Eight houses were heavily inundated and several more were expected to be affected.
Pol Col Thotsaporn Pathumya, commander of the 13th border patrol unit, on Saturday led a team of border patrol police to distribute necessities to the affected households.
Border patrol police distribute essential goods to flood-hit households in Thong Pha Phum district of Kanchanaburi on Saturday after the Vajiralongkorn Dam overflowed. (Photo by Piyarach Chongcharoen)