The flood situation is starting to ease, preparing for the end of the rainy season and the beginning of the cold season. The National Flood Relief Operation Center has adjusted the water discharge from the Chao Phraya Dam to 1,950 cubic meters per second after the rain trend has decreased. The southern region is warned to watch out for heavy rain in many areas. The National Water Resources Committee is preparing to use AI to solve the water problem, emphasizing the accuracy of the data to solve the problem in the long term.
Mr. Jirayu Huangsap, spokesman for the Flood, Storm and Landslide Relief Operation Center (FSOC) and the Forward FSOC in Chiang Rai Province, revealed that the amount of rainfall and water flowing over the Chao Phraya Dam at Station C.2 Nakhon Sawan of 2,225 cubic meters per second and the water discharge of 2,002 cubic meters per second are showing signs of improvement. The FSOC meeting today (October 12, 2024) therefore adjusted the water discharge from the Chao Phraya Dam down to 1,95
0 cubic meters per second in order to manage water appropriately and in line with the rainfall-runoff situation and to balance with the flood situation during October 13-24.
“From the adjustment of water drainage to 1,950 cubic meters per second today, it will have a positive effect on the areas of Wat Sing, In Buri District, Mueang District, Phrom Buri District, Sing Buri Province, and Wat Chaiyo, Chaiyo District, Ang Thong Province,” said Mr. Jira-yu.
Mr. Jirayu added that during this period, there is a monsoon trough across the upper southern region, causing some areas in the southern region to experience heavy to very heavy rain. People in the aforementioned areas should be careful of the dangers of heavy to very heavy rain and accumulated rain, which may cause flash floods, forest runoff, and landslides.
‘We would like to warn the public to be aware of flooding and landslides in steep areas, especially in Wiang Sa, Phra Saeng, and Ban Ta Khun in Surat Thani Province, Chawang in Nakhon Si Thammarat Pro
vince, and Betong and Than To in Yala Province. We should also be aware of flash floods and overflowing riverbanks during October 13-17. We also need to monitor reservoirs that are more than 80 percent full, and areas at risk of flash floods and overflowing riverbanks and urban areas that are regularly flooded due to insufficient drainage in the following provinces: Kanchanaburi, Chon Buri, Rayong, Chanthaburi, Trat, Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Chumphon, Ranong, Phang Nga, Phuket, Surat Thani, Krabi, Nakhon Si Thammarat, Trang, Satun, Phatthalung, Songkhla, Pattani, Yala, and Narathiwat. We would like the public to be prepared for the flood situation and to follow news of advance warnings from government agencies to people in risk areas,’ said Mr. Jirayu.
Mr. Jirayu clarified the case of social media reporting that there is a chance of a storm hitting Vietnam between October 13-14. Thailand must therefore closely monitor the situation. The information has been checked with the Meteorological Department
. The information is not true and does not come from the Meteorological Department’s information sources. It may be a misunderstanding. From continuous monitoring, there is still no sign of a tropical storm forming near Thailand. However, the public is asked to check fake news on the Public Relations Department’s page or the Anti-Fake News Center Thailand.
Mr. Jirayu said that the progress of the rehabilitation plan in Chiang Rai Province has progressed significantly. On the evening of October 11, Ms. Thirat Rattanawanich, Deputy Minister of Interior and Chairwoman of the Chiang Rai Frontline Center for Public Sector Development, along with relevant agencies, participated in the Big Cleaning activity to clean the dust on the road (Phahonyothin) in front of the Mae Sai border checkpoint to create clean air for Mae Sai residents, following the Prime Minister’s instructions when he came to monitor the rehabilitation of the affected areas after the flood. All sectors responded to the action so that the people in
Mae Sai District can have a good life and return their homes to their original condition as soon as possible.
For the progress of the rehabilitation in Muang Chiang Rai District, Chiang Rai Province, the target is 1,367 households, 1,315 households have been completed, 52 households are in progress, which is 96% complete. And for the rehabilitation in Mae Sai District, Chiang Rai Province, Phase 2, the activity of restoring and cleaning people’s houses has affected 819 households, 598 households have been helped, 221 households are in progress, which is 73% complete, said Mr. Jirayu.
Mr. Jirayu mentioned about the meeting of the National Water Resources Committee that Mr. Prasert Jantarawongthong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Digital Economy and Society, chaired the 4/2567 meeting of the National Water Resources Committee (NWRC) together with relevant agencies in Phitsanulok, assigning the NWRC to carry out 3 tasks as follows: 1. Requesting the NWRC to analyze and assess the water situation more fr
equently every day, have accurate data, and integrate work with all relevant parties, including preparing to support the situation that will occur, taking into account not causing panic among the public. 2. Preparing to cope with the drought problem that will occur in many areas of Thailand after the end of October, especially storing enough water in dams for the upcoming dry season. There is concern that if the dry season enters, will the water situation or volume of water be able to be sufficient for consumption throughout the year for the public during the dry season? And 3. Solving the problem of flooding in the medium to long term, especially preventing flooding in the North next year and the following year, requesting that the various plans that have been discussed be reconsidered to prioritize which projects should be implemented immediately. Under the most cost-effective budget and able to solve problems as accurately as possible
‘The Deputy Prime Minister attaches importance to the proposal of the M
inister of Agriculture and Cooperatives to consider using AI technology to manage the country’s water data to be used in the executive decision-making process to manage the country’s water management more efficiently,’ said Mr. Jirayu.
Source: Thai News Agency