The Office of National Water Resources is keeping a close watch on eight large-sized dams which are holding water at alarming levels, ONWR secretary-general Somkiat Prajumwong said on Friday.

Mr Somkiat said the eight dams are Nam Phung dam in Sakon Nakhon, Lam Pao dam in Kalasin, Chulabhorn dam in Chaiyaphum, Ubonrat dam in Khon Kaen, Vajiralongkorn dam in Kanchanaburi, Pranburi dam in Prachuap Khiri Khan, Nam Un dam in Sakon Nakhon and Kaeng Krachan dam in Phetchaburi.

In particular, water in both the Nam Un and Kaeng Krachan dams is now 103% of their holding capacities.

Mr Somkiat said agencies concerned have been instructed to discharge excessive water from these dams. Governors in respective provinces are now playing a central role in issuing flood warnings and launching relief operations.

The water level in the Phetchaburi River at Muang district is still about 60 centimetres under the banks as more water is being discharged into the irrigation system. Moreover, less water, about 54 centimetres high, is now flowing across the spillway of the Kaeng Krachan dam. However, the Phetchaburi River is likely to overflow into Tha Yang and Ban Laem districts.

Less water is also flowing into the Kaeng Krachan dam. However, the water level in the dam may go up higher next week if there is more rain. Therefore, it is still necessary for the dam to continue to discharge water downstream.

In the Mekong River, water is receding steadily, Mr Somkiat said.