The Department of Public Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has instructed authorities in several central provinces to accelerate the discharge of floodwater into the Chao Phraya River, to ease the hardship of flood victims ahead of anticipated heavy rain induced by Typhoon Matmo.
The typhoon, with wind speeds of up to 120kph at its centre, is anticipated to make landfall in Kwang Dong province of southern China today, after which it will weaken rapidly without directly hitting Thailand, said the department, adding that it will, however, bring strong winds to northern and northeastern provinces.
The department said that the Chao Phraya River contains a bottleneck, resulting in slow water flow into the Gulf of Thailand, adding that it is necessary to accelerate the river’s flow, which will, in turn, ease the flooding in the Chao Phraya River basin.
Currently, more than 100,000 households have been affected by floods in Uttaradit, Phitsanuloke, Phetchabun, Sukhothai, Nakhon Sawan, Phichit, Uthai Thani, Chainat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Suphan Buri, Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, Nakhon Pathom, Chaiyaphum and Chachoengsao provinces. 12 people have drowned so far.
The department reports that it has sent a potable water production trucks and water pumps to Bang Barn and Phra Nakorn Si Ayutthaya districts to ease the people’s hardships.
Meanwhile, former prime minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra led a group of Pheu Thai MPs to visit and distribute relief supplies to flood victims today in Uttaradit province.
Several flood victims complained to her that the floodwater came so fast that they were unable to move their valuables to higher ground in time to prevent them being damaged.
