People living along the Mekong River in Thailand’s eight northern and north-eastern provinces have been advised to brace for the effects of the rising level of the river until August 8^th.

The National Water Command Centre said today (Sunday) that, on July 27^th and 28^th, the level of the river below China’s Jinghong Hydropower Station increased by about 1.2 meters, meaning that the volume of water that passed through the station had increased by an average of 1,090m³/s.

The command centre went on to say that the level is expected to increase steadily, due to increased rainfall forecast for the lower Mekong River until August 8^th.

The water levels at three main hydrological stations is as follows:

• At Chiang Saen Hydrological Station in Chiang Rai province, the water level of the river was measured at 3.22 meters, which was still 9.58 meters below the tops of the banks. It is predicted that the river will rise by 1-1.2 meters today and tomorrow.
• At the Chiang Khan Hydrological Station in of Loei province, the water level was measured at 5.59 meters, which was still 7.41 meters below the tops of the banks. The water level is forecast to increase by 0.8-1.2 meters on Tuesday and Wednesday.
• At the Nong Khai Hydrological Station, the water level was 6.5 meters below the tops of the banks and the level is forecast to increase by 0.8-1.2 meters between August 5^th and 8^th.

The command centre has advised people living along the river in Chiang Rai, Loei, Nong Khai, Bung Kan, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen and Ubon Ratchathani to monitor updates on the water situation constantly.