The Office of National Water Resources (ONWR) on Monday warned of possible flooding downstream from the Chao Phraya dam later this week, with the river level expected to rise by 40-60 centimetres on Sept 16-17.
The ONWR said the Meteological Department's forecast is for heavy rain from Sept 12-17 in the North, Northeast, East, South and Central regions including Bangkok and its vicinity.
The Chao Phraya river is expected to run past Nakhon Sawan at 1,900-2,000 cubic metres per second and the Chao Phraya dam in Chai Nat at 1,800-2,000 cubic metres per second during this period.
As a result, the water level below the dam in Chai Nat is expected to rise by 40-60cm on Sept 16-17. Low-lying communities behind the floodwalls along the Chao Phraya river in Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Nonthaburi, Pathum Thani and Bangkok would be affected.
The ONWR asked the appropriate agencies to:
- Monitor the water situation, check the strength of riverside buildings, raise flood walls in low-lying areas higher and warn local residents to be prepared for the higher level of water;
- Prepare machinery and other equipment for relief operations; and
- Adjust plans for the release of water from reservoirs, dams and sluice gates in line with the situation.