Monsoon storms have caused flash flooding and forest runoff in parts of Tak in the country's north, cutting off land routes to many villages, said the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) yesterday.
Rains have continued for seven consecutive days in the province, bringing floodwaters to nine villages in Tha Song Yang, Phop Phra, Mae Ramat and Mae Sot districts.
More than 140 houses were damaged in the floods which also submerged several roads, cutting off access to villages. Extensive damage to crops has also been reported, local authorities said yesterday.
The Moei River, which borders Thailand and Myanmar, yesterday overflowed its banks, causing a deluge to swamp surrounding areas. Local officials, soldiers and rescue volunteers were deployed to evacuate villagers stranded inside flooded homes along the river.
The flood levels in some parts of Mae Sot district were up to 1m high, causing the Mae Sot Provincial Electricity Authority to cut power supply to those affected areas.
Some parts of Mae Ramat district adjacent to Mae Sot district were inundated. Overflowing water from Mae La Mao Creek submerged a bridge, cutting off land routes to Ban Wang Pha in tambon Mae Ja Rao in the district.
Many people were stranded inside their flooded houses in the district.
Tak province has written to officials in border districts to warn people about flash floods and landslides while also ordering officials to assist those affected.
Meanwhile, the DDPM reported that storms yesterday hit tambon Mai Root of Khlong Yai district in Trat, which resulted in one person being killed.
Storms also hit parts of Moo 11 village in tambon Na Phra Lan of Chalerm Prakiat district in Saraburi. No injuries or fatalities were reported.
The Meteorological Department issued a warning, saying that during July 28-30, a monsoon trough lies across Myanmar, the upper part of the North, Laos and upper Vietnam. A strong southwest monsoon prevails over the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand.
Thundershowers are likely over Thailand with isolated to heavy rain in the North, the Northeast, the Central, the East and the South. Strong winds and waves in the Andaman Sea are likely with a 2-3 metre swell in the upper Andaman Sea expected and above 3 metres during thundershowers.
Bangkok Governor Pol Gen Aswin Kwanmuang said he carried out a field trip to inspect a drainage system at Bangkok Yai Canal station, as part of preparations for possible heavy rain and flooding that could arrive in mid-October to November 2021.
Recently, the amount of northern water in the Chao Phraya River that flowed through Bangkok was around 80-100 m3 per second. The river has the capacity to take 2,500–3,000 m3 per second.
From Jan 1 to July 22 in the greater Bangkok area, the amount of rain measured at the Drainage and Sewerage Department in Din Daeng district was 823mm.
It was predicted that during August to October, the additional rainfall amount would meet the normal range of 1,689.7mm; or it could be greater or lesser by around 5%, Pol Gen Aswin said.