Central Phetchaburi to flood again on Wednesday

Central Phetchaburi to flood again on Wednesday

The Phetchaburi River floods through a riverside resort hotel in Phetchaburi province on Tuesday. The flood is expected to reach the centre of the province about noon on Wednesday. (Photo by Sompong Plaipongsa)
The Phetchaburi River floods through a riverside resort hotel in Phetchaburi province on Tuesday. The flood is expected to reach the centre of the province about noon on Wednesday. (Photo by Sompong Plaipongsa)

A fresh flood warning has been issued for Muang district of Phetchaburi, gateway to the South, with the water level in Kaeng Krachan dam at a 10-year high and pouring down the spillway.

Sant Joncharoen, irrigation chief of Phetchaburi, said on Tuesday that the dam in Kaeng Krachan district held 777 million cubic metres of water, which was 109% of the manageable capacity and the most in 10 years.

The dam was discharging 286 cubic metres of water per second, its peak rate. The water flowing down the spillway was 1.44 metres deep. The flood surge would reach the heart of Phetchaburi province around noon on Wednesday, he said.

Mr Sant said floodwater in Muang district would be 10-20 centimetres deep and remain that way for 5-7 days before subsiding.

Deputy provincial governor Nathawut Phetpromsorn said the flooding would slow down traffic on the Phetkasem highway, the main road south. Vehicles would be directed to detours.

The Office of the National Water Resources said the Phetchaburi River received water from the dam and was reported to be overflowing in Tha Yang and Muang districts.

About 50 resort hotels near the river were flooded and operators had asked provincial authorities to speed up drainage downstream.

Downtown Phetchaburi only recently recovered from major flooding earlier this month.

Video by Dumrongkiat Mala

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