The wall of a small reservoir in San Kamphaeng district of Chiang Mai collapsed during the early hours of Wednesday, sending a huge amount of water gushing downstream to inundate at least four villages, causing extensive property damages.

In Ban Mae Tad alone where the reservoir is located, about 100 houses are flooded, said Mr Naret Nochai, an official of the public disaster prevention and mitigation of Tambon Huay Sai municipal.

Three other villages downstream namely Ban Mor, Ban San Khao Kaeb Klang, Ban Lan Tong and Ban Huay Sai are also flooded and many poultry drowned.  Several local roads in the villages have become impassable and motorists have to switch to other routes.

Naret said that the small reservoir was built by the Department of Land Development several years ago, adding that he suspected the wall could not withstand the pressure of water in the reservoir after heavy rain for the past several days.

He expected floodwater to steadily subside this evening if there is no more rain.

For villages further downstream, sand bags have been districted to residents to build flood walls to protect their houses from possible flooding.

As for the damaged reservoir, Naret said the district administration would consider with agencies concerned whether to fix the damage or to build a new reservoir.