Half of Ayutthaya submerged, storm Kalmaegi to hit Ubon Ratchathani this afternoon

Half of the central province of Ayutthaya is currently inundated, as the water levels in the Chao Phraya and Noi rivers have steadily risen, after the Royal Irrigation Department increased the rate of discharge through the Chao Phraya dam to 2,700m³/s.

More than 54,000 households in 837 villages in eight districts are now submerged, most are located next or close to the Chao Phraya and Noi rivers and many other canals, with several of them being flooded for more than three months. The death toll from drowning is recorded at 14.

Out of 16 districts in Ayutthaya, half of them are flooded. They are Sena, Phak Hai, Bang Sai, Muang, Bang Pa-in, Bang Pahan and Bang Saai and Bang Ban.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department announced today that, at 4am this morning, Typhoon Kalmaegi had weakened to a tropical storm as it reached the Cambodian town of Stueng Treng, with the centre of the storm about 120km to the southeast of Khong Chiam district of Ubon Ratchathani.

With wind speeds of 83kph at its centre, the storm is moving at a speed of 30kph across Laos. It will reach Ubon Ratchathani this afternoon, before weakening to a low pressure cell.

The department has forecast heavy to very heavy rain from today through Sunday in:

·        Phetchabun

·        Uttaradit 

·        Phitsanuloke

·        Phichit

·        Ubon Ratchathani

·        Amnart Charoen

·        Si Sa Ket

·        Yasothon

·        Mukdahan

·        Surin

·        Maha Sarakham

·        Kalasin

·        Khon Kaen

·        Buri Ram

·        Nakhon Ratchasima

·        Chaiyaphum

·        Lop Buri Saraburi

·        Nakhon Sawan

·        Chainat

·        Sing Buri

·        Ang Thong

·        Ayutthaya

·        Sa Kaeo

·        Prachin Buri

·        Chachoengsao

·        Nakhon Nayok

·        Chon Buri