Residents in Phetchaburi are bracing for water that is expected to be spilled over from Kaeng Krachan dam tomorrow noon.

The dam is currently holding 777 million cubic metres of water or 109% of its full capacity, the highest level in 10 year, and discharging water at the rate of 286 cubic metres per second.

The spillover is expected to overflow the Phetchaburi river banks to flood Phetchaburi town by noon on Wednesday, provincial irrigation project director Sant Jorncharoen said at an urgent press conference today.

Mr Sant said the water running across the spillway this morning was 1.44 metres high. The water inflow was 25.2 million cu/m per day and the outflow 24.36 million cu/m per day.

Downstream, the Phetchaburi dam was discharging water at the rate of 160 cubic metres per second.

The spillover, which was released from the Kaeng Krachan dam at the rate of 286 cu/m per second, was expected to reach Phetchaburi town by noon on Wednesday.

The town was expected to be about 10-20 centimetres under water and the flooding to stay 5-7 days before receding, Mr Sant said.

Nathawut Phetpromsorn, deputy Phetchaburi governor, said that in this situation all concerned must be fully ready to implement the flood prevention and mitigation plan including building flood prevention walls in low-lying areas along the Phetchaburi river.

Areas expected to be hard-hit are tambons Khlong Krachaeng, Ban Mo, Ton Ma Muang, Ban Kum and Na Mon, he said.