The prime minister has urged provincial governors and authorities nationwide to brace for flooding following a sharp increase in rainfall in recent days and with forecasts predicting more heavy rain throughout the month.
A significant amount of rain fell across the country in the last 24 hours, especially in the northern, northeastern, central, eastern and southwestern regions.
Nong Khai province was hardest hit with 164mm of rainfall, followed by Trat with 146mm, which saw water levels in major rivers rise significantly.
All reservoirs are at least 57% full, according to the National Water Command.
It said it is now closely monitoring the water situation in the Chao Phraya and Mun river basins, as the Royal Irrigation Department is stepping up the discharge of water from the Chao Phraya Dam to 700–1,100 cubic meters per second.
Government spokesman, Thanakorn Wangboonkongchana, said this will cause the water level of the Chao Phraya River to increase by about 0.2–0.8 metres, which may result in flooding in low-lying areas not protected by flood dykes in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya province.
Despite playing down the flood risk to local communities, he said Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha has ordered the Ministry of Interior and the governors of Ang Thong and Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya provinces to prepare for possible flooding.
He also issued flood and bad weather warnings to governors elsewhere across the country.
"The prime minister told these governors, who also act as directors of the Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Division, in northern, northeastern, and central provinces to watch out for flash floods, while southern provinces should be wary of rough sea conditions," he said.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department warned people in the Northeast of flash floods, as 80% of the region is expected to be hit by heavy rain throughout this month.