More than 135,000 hectares of land, including about 42,560 hectares of rice fields in the Nan, Chao Phraya, Pasak and Bang Pakong river basins, are now flooded, according to the Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA).

Images from GISTDA’s Sentinel-1 satellite, released yesterday (Monday), show flooded areas in Sukhothai, Uttaradit, Suphan Buri, Phetchabun, Prachin Buri, Chai Nat, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Phayao, Phrae, Nakhon Nayok, Nan, Lop Buri, Chachoengsao and Saraburi provinces.

Apart from the rice fields, which are likely to be damaged if the flooding is prolonged, more than 1,700 households are also inundated, according to GISTDA.

The Royal Irrigation Department, in the past week, has reduced the amount of water being discharged through the four main dams in the Chao Phraya river basin, while it has instructed officials manning all irrigation projects to keep monitoring weather forecasts and the rain situation in northern Thailand throughout September.

The department has, however, offered an assurance that the reservoirs behind the Bhumibol, Sirikit, Kwae Noi Bumrung Dan and Pasak Jolasid dams still have the capacity to hold an additional 11 billion cubic metres of water.

Households in low-lying areas in Chai Nat, Ang Thong and Ayutthaya provinces, which are downstream of the Chao Phraya Dam, are flooded as the water level in the Chao Phraya River and its tributaries, such as the Noi River in Ayutthaya province, is steadily rising.

In Ayutthaya province, the provincial health office has advised people to be aware of waterborne diseases and venomous creatures, which usually accompany flooding.

In Ko Kret, a small islet in the Chao Phraya River in Pak Kret district of Nonthaburi, residents living in areas not protected by floodwalls have been moving their valuables to higher ground since Sunday, due to the high tides.