Flooding in Nong Khai city has widened after heavy rain last night (13 Sept), while the Mekong River continues to rise, causing water drainage to be slow.
Last night (September 13), Prajaksilpakom Road in Nong Khai Municipality became another flooded spot after more than 100 millimeters of rain fell, causing officials to be unable to drain the water in time. Many shops and government offices were flooded. Families brought sandbags to place as a flood barrier to prevent water from overflowing into their homes. However, some areas were not able to hold it. Although this economic road was not directly flooded by the overflowing Mekong River, the Mekong River, which was rising and gradually increasing, prevented officials from draining the water as expected, but instead, the water level increased and spread to various roads.
The mayor of Nong Khai revealed that out of 43 communities, 18 communities, more than 900 households, have been affected by the flood. Officials have installed 17 large water pumps to quic
kly drain water into the Mekong River. In normal times, it would take only half an hour to dry up, but with the Mekong River rising this high, it is expected that it will take until tomorrow (15 September).
While the owner of the sportswear shop said that most of them had to rely on themselves for food and sandbags, he understood that there were a lot of victims, making it difficult for officials to help everyone.
This afternoon, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Interior Anutin Charnvirakul took a flat-bottomed boat to visit, give encouragement, and distribute relief bags to flood victims in Wiang Kuk Subdistrict, the first subdistrict in Mueang Nong Khai District to receive water from Tha Bo District. Four villages, totaling 900 households, were affected. The lowest point was overhead water. This zone was outside the flood barrier. Although villagers tried to use sandbags to fill risky areas, it was no use. The mass of water overflowed and flooded at 1 a.m. yesterday and rose rapidly. They then travel
ed to deliver relief bags at Phra That La Nong on the Mekong River.
At both points, Mr. Anutin promised in front of the people that he would speed up the compensation for the damage and alleviate the suffering as much as possible, both in terms of accelerating the drainage of water and paying compensation after the water recedes. He emphasized that the victims must have three meals a day and ordered a reduction in the cost of water and electricity in all flooded areas.
The Mekong River’s current level is 13.75, about 1.55 meters above the bank, but 25 centimeters above the embankment that protects the bank. However, despite efforts to place tens of thousands of sandbags as a second layer of the embankment, water has leaked and burst through the pipes. It has been reported that in the past half hour, this embankment has been eroded by water and collapsed. The water is now flooding the city.
Source: Thai News Agency