The water level in the Ping River, which flows through Chiang Mai’s Muang district, is steadily rising due to heavy rain, compounded by the increased discharge of water through Mae Ngad Somboonchon Dam, threatening to flood low-lying areas.
According to the office of the Mae Faek-Mae Ngad Somboonchon Water Distribution and Maintenance Project, the volume of water behind the dam has increased to 234 million cubic metres, 88% of its total capacity.
As a result, more water needs to be discharged downstream to reduce pressure on the dam. The Ping River was measured at 3.45m deep at 9am today, approaching the critical level of 3.70m.
A mass of water, from the northern reaches of Chiang Mai, was predicted to reach the Muang district via the Ping River by 11am, but officials are optimistic that it will have little impact on the district township.
Overflows from the swollen river have, however, inundated many households in Bang Khien sub-district in Nakhon Sawan province.
Villagers have complained that this is the third flood within a month and they are forced to move their valuables to higher ground every time they are warned of flooding.
In the meantime, residents of Bang Rakham district in Phitsanuloke province said that their villages have been flooded for about a month.
Meanwhile, a water expert at Team Consulting Engineering and Management reported today that typhoon Bualoi, the 20th typhoon of this year, had caused heavy rain in the central Philippines and Manila yesterday and is expected to develop into a Level 1 typhoon tomorrow, before it weakens into a tropical storm, as it makes landfall in northern Vietnam this Sunday or Monday.
Bualoi will further weaken into a depression and then a low pressure cell, before dissolving over Luang Prabang, Chiang Rai province, Phayao and Nan provinces.
