As Thailand braces for extreme climate and potential flash floods, the Office of National Water Resources (ONWR) has issued an urgent communication to the Mekong River Commission Secretariat (MRCS) and neighbouring nations within the Lower Mekong River Basin, including China. The ONWR urges careful administration of water level discharges in the area to stop damaging floods.
Yesterday, Surasri Kidtimonton, the ONWR’s Secretary-General and Deputy Director of the National Water Command Centre (NWCC), reported that fixed heavy rains in the lower basin have already spawned flash floods in the Bolikhamxay province of Laos.
Remote from a low-pressure trough spanning southern China and northern Vietnam, dumping copious rainfall throughout the north and northeast of Thailand. Thus, a surge in water levels in the Mekong River is anticipated from Thursday through to next Tuesday.
In response to this impending risk, the NWCC initially prompted residents in eight provinces skirting the Mekong River to organize for likely flash floods, reported Bangkok Post.
Following this cautionary measure, the ONWR disseminated a notice to the MRCS, informing member nations such as Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam of the most recent water situational report. They urged swift motion to stop emergency circumstances arising from extreme flooding, as Surasri warned.
He additional added that the ONWR has likewise approached Laos and China, reiterating the call to control discharge charges from dams along the Mekong River cautiously to thwart potential flood situations.
Surasri assured that current water levels, as reported by water stations throughout the Mekong River in areas including Chiang Rai, Loei, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen, and Ubon Ratchathani, stay manageable till now.
In the face of the looming emergency, representatives from the ONWR Region three have been assigned to watch the water situation intently. They are working in conjunction with native businesses to lend needed assistance to individuals dwelling close to the most important waterway.
The present weather forecast warns of heavy rainfall anticipated to set off landslides and flash floods across sixteen provinces from today by way of to Friday.
On Thursday, he noted the provinces of Trat, Mukdahan, Trang, Kanchanaburi, Nan and Lop Buri have already been impacted by heavy rains.
Surasri also flagged the potential for flash floods and mudslides in Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Tak, Nan, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Nakhon Phanom, Sakon Nakhon, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat, Ranong, Phangnga, Phuket, Satun and Trang from at present until Friday..