Tropical storm Mun has already made landfall in Vietnam and will eventually downgrade to a depression and then to a low pressure cell. The weather system been a boon for Thailand as it has dumped about 243 million cubic metres of rain into farmland, reservoirs, rivers and other natural waterways.
Mr. Somkiart Prajamwong, secretary-general of the National Water Resources Office, said today many areas in Thailand’s northern, northeastern and eastern regions have been at risk of flash floods and mudslides because of the heavy rain. Several reservoirs, however, have been replenished by the deluge over the past 3 days.
Of the rain water dumped on Thailand, he said that 207 million cubic metres have found their way into five major reservoirs in the North, including Mae Ngad Somboonchon, Mae Kwang Udomthara, Kiew Kor Ma, Kwae Noi and Bhumibol, as well as eight out of 13 reservoirs in the Northeast, including Nam Oon, Nam Pung, Chulabhorn, Ubonrat, Lampao, Sirindhorn and Lam Takong.
According to the National Water Resources Office, 16 major reservoirs contain less than 30% of their capacity and 19 contain up to 60 percent. Only three contain more than 60 percent of their capacity, namely Srinakarin, Ratchaprapa and Bang Lang.
Mr. Somkiart said his office has been closely monitoring water inflows into reservoirs, which will help in effective water management.
