The Royal Irrigation Department has installed about 200 water pumps to accelerate the discharge of water from the Mun River, in Khong Chiam district in of Ubon Ratchathani, into the Mekong River.

The water level in the Mekong is still about 60cm below that of the Mun, making it possible to discharge more than 390 million cubic metres per day into the Mekong, according to Udomsak Nuansiri, the chief district officer of Khong Chiam.

The water level in the Mun River in Ubon Ratchathani yesterday (Friday) was 9.57 metres, an approximately 36cm increase from Thursday.

In Warin Chamrap district, army helicopters airdropped relief supplies into heavily flooded villages which are inaccessible by road. More than 10 riverside communities in Muang district have been advised by officials to evacuate to temporary shelters being provided by provincial administration.

Ubon Ratchathani was the first province to be struck by Tropical Storm Noru on Thursday night.

Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is scheduled to inspect the flood situation in Ubon Ratchathani on Monday, when he resumes work as usual after the Constitutional Court ruled on Friday that his term in the office has not expired yet.

According to the public disaster prevention and mitigation office in Nakhon Ratchasima, eight districts remain heavily flooded.

Hundreds of workers were evacuated from factories in Chakkarat district yesterday, after overflows from the swollen Lam Phra Phloeng reservoir, in Pak Thong Chai district, inundated surrounding areas.

Authorities closed the main highway to the Muang district yesterday, which was under about a metre of water, making it impassable to all vehicles.