A tropical depression is heading to Thailand and threatening to inundate low-lying areas in 27 provinces including Bangkok, and to worsen flooding in Nakhon Ratchasima in the next two days, according to the Thai Meteorological Department (TMD).
In a TMD weather update released yesterday, a Category 2 tropical depression centred in the middle of the South China Sea was tracking towards Nha Trang in Vietnam with sustained winds of 55 kilometres per hour.
It was forecast to make landfall yesterday evening before moving through Cambodia and into the upper Gulf of Thailand today.
The depression is bringing isolated heavy rain and strong winds to the lower Northeast, the East, the Central Plains provinces, including Bangkok and its vicinity, as well as the South, according to the TMD.
Somkiat Prajamwong, secretary-general of the Office of National Water Resources, warned the tropical depression has set off alarms as it could unleash floods and mountain runoffs and cause landslides in 27 provinces across all regions.
In Nakhon Ratchasima, still flooded in parts as a result of Tropical Storm Noul which struck the country late last month, the depression has placed provincial authorities on full alert for water overflowing the Lam Takong reservoir, the Moon River and the Lam Plai Mat reservoir.
A similar alert was also in place along the Pasak River in Phetchabun, the Khun Dan Prakan Chon reservoir in Nakhon Nayok and the Nong Pla Lai reservoir in Rayong.
In Nakhon Nayok and Rayong, water-catchment areas have been set aside to absorb excess water to be diverted from the reservoirs, according to the Royal Irrigation Department.
Yesterday, six large water pumps were installed in communities along the irrigation canal in Ban Phon Sung of Muang district in Nakhon Ratchasima where authorities were racing against time to channel rising water to the nearest public waterway.
More than 150 households in four villages in tambon Mueng Wai were battered by a deluge that resulted from water being turned away from Lam Ta Kong to keep the reservoir from flooding. The province is still dealing with the aftermath of Noul.
Anulom Suntiamuenwai, 58, a local, said she received a flood warning on Tuesday and immediately brought in a water pump and erected sandbags around her home. Flooding still submerged the entire first floor of her home.