The flooding situation in several central provinces is deteriorating, as the water level in the Chao Phraya River keeps rising due to increased discharge through the Chao Phraya Dam in Chainat province.
In Ang Thong province today, men and heavy machinery have been mobilised to strengthen the floodwall and to fill the gaps, in a desperate attempt to save the economic zone in Pa Moke municipality.
Volunteers have been filling large bags with sand, while heavy machinery lifts the sand bags and barriers into place, to close the gaps and reinforce the floodwall.
A new floodwall has also been built to protect Highway 33 from inundation.
In nearby Ayutthaya province, flooding has now spread to ten out of 16 districts, as the water levels in the Chao Phraya and Noi rivers are steadily rising while the Royal Irrigation Department maintains the dam’s discharge rate at 2,700m3/s.
It is reported that the Choeng Tha ancient temple, which was built during the Ayutthaya period and is registered as an archaeological site, is now under about a metre of water.
A monk reportedly said that, at about 10pm last night, he heard some villagers shouting that flood water was leaking into the temple compound, prompting him to move valuables to higher ground immediately.
The road in front of the temple and the car park are still intact though.
More than 57,400 households in Sena, Phak Hai, Bang Ban, Bang Sai, Muang, Bang Pa-in, Bang Pahan, Bang saai, Ban Phraek and Lat Bua Luang have been affected.
Pheu Thai party’s deputy spokesperson, Praphaporn Thongpaknam, criticised the government today for ignoring the flood problem and the sufferings of flood victims. She claimed that Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul took his father to Government House for lunch and went to attend a Loy Krathong event with his wife while flood victims were suffering.
She claimed that about half a million people are being affected by the flooding and more than 320,000 hectares of farmland are under water.
She urged the government to accelerate efforts to help the flood victims.
