People living upstream of the Chao Phraya Dam are advised to brace for rising water as the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) stabilises the amount of water discharged through the dam to ease the impacts downstream.
Witthaya Kaewmee, director general of the RID, said that this approach will increase the level of Chao Phraya River upstream because the inflow of water into the river is steadily increasing due to continuous rain in the northern region, which is expected to reach 2,400m3/s.
People upstream of the dam should keep close watch on the water situation, he said, adding that the department will keep the depth of Chao Phraya River upstream of the dam at 18 metres or less.
He made clear that the holding back of water upstream does not mean that the water will vanish, but the discharge downstream will be slowed temporarily.
That is why the department wants to advise people in Nakhon Sawan, Uthai Thani and Chai Nat to be prepared for an increase in the level of water in the river, he said, adding that the first thing they should is to move their valuables to high ground.
