The CPOC ordered the frontline to increase its forces to provide assistance after the situation in the Ping River remained concerning. The public was warned to prepare and monitor the situation promptly. They also announced an adjustment to the water drainage plan. The CPOC and the ONWR closely coordinated with downstream areas.
Mr. Jirayu Huangsap, advisor to the prime minister and spokesman of the Flood, Storm and Landslide Relief Operation Center (FSOC), revealed that the situation in the Ping River is still concerning. He also asked the FSOC for Chiang Rai to coordinate with the Chiang Mai governor to urgently resolve the problem in Chiang Mai immediately. He received a report since 5:00 a.m. today that he had coordinated with the Chiang Mai governor to enter flooded areas that were still inaccessible and to be ready to deal with the expected increase in water levels.
The Office of National Water Resources (ONWR) has issued a warning in the Ping River and its tributaries to watch out for overflowing wa
ter and flooding in the Ping River during October 3-6, 2024 due to heavy rain in the Ping River basin, causing the water level in the Ping River and its tributaries to rise and likely overflow. It is expected that the highest water level at Nawarat Bridge, Mueang District, Chiang Mai Province will be 1.58 meters higher than the temporary bank level on October 6, 2024. The area along the river in Chiang Mai Province, including Mueang District, Hot District, Saraphi District, Mae Wang District, and Doi Lor District, is also to be watched, covering a total flooding area in Chiang Mai Province of 206.75 kilometers, and in Lamphun Province, including Mueang District, Pa Sang District, and Wiang Nong Long District.
As for the adjustment of the plan to release water through the Chao Phraya Dam to accommodate the situation according to the amount of water in the North, Mr. Chirayu said that because there is currently a continuous amount of heavy rain in the upper part of the basin, the water situation in the Chao Ph
raya Basin in the next 1-7 days at the C.2 water measurement station in Nakhon Sawan Province will have a water flow of approximately 2,200-2,500 cubic meters/second. The Royal Irrigation Department needs to adjust the water release in a stepped manner through the Chao Phraya Dam at a rate not exceeding 2,400 cubic meters/second in order for water management to be appropriate and consistent with the rainfall-runoff situation.
The discharge of water at such a rate will cause the water level along the Chao Phraya River and low-lying areas outside the embankment to rise by approximately 60-70 centimeters. Flood risk areas include Khlong Phong Pheng, Ang Thong Province, Khlong Bang Ban, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, Mae Nam Noi in Tambon Hua Wiang, Sena District, Tambon Lat Chit, Tambon Tha Din Daeng, Phak Hai District, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, Wat Sing District, Chainat Province, Amphoe Phrom Buri, Amphoe Mueang, Amphoe In Buri, Sing Buri Province, Wat Chaiyo, Amphoe Chaiyo, Ang Thong Province, T
ambon Phonang Dam Tok, Sapphaya District, Chainat Province, Wat Suea Kham, Amphoe In Buri, Sing Buri Province, Amphoe Pa Mok, Ang Thong Province. If the water level in the upper part rises, which results in an increase in the amount of water flowing through the Chao Phraya Dam, ONWR will assess the situation and have the Royal Irrigation Department notify people in downstream areas periodically.
Mr. Jirayu said that the meeting acknowledged the report from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) in accordance with the order of the Flood, Storm and Landslide Relief Operation Center in Chiang Rai Province by Ms. Thirat Samretwanich, Deputy Minister of Interior as the Chairwoman of the Flood, Storm and Landslide Relief Operation Center (FCRI Chiang Rai) in 5 issues as follows:
1. Assign the Chiang Rai Provincial Natural Resources and Environment Office to manage the rehabilitation in Mae Sai District to manage waste in the area.
2. Assign the Chiang Rai Provincial Police to manage the reha
bilitation of public areas in Mueang District, Chiang Rai Province.
3. Assign the district, Chiang Rai Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, and related agencies to survey the damaged houses, whether in whole or in part, to obtain a definite number of all houses in order to prepare for providing assistance in accordance with the regulations of the Prime Minister’s Office’s Disaster Relief Fund
. 4. Assign the Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office to prepare a list of donated items to prepare for delivery to the disaster-stricken areas, and accept donations to the provincial office and provincial administrative offices in order to distribute them to the victims.
5. Let the Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office coordinate with Mae Sai District, Wiang Pa Pao District, including the districts where flooding occurred, and relevant agencies located outside Mueang Chiang Rai District to hold a teleconference to closely monitor the situation.
As for the flood situation in Chiang
Mai Province last night (4 Oct 2014), the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) worked together with the Chiang Mai Incident Command Center to support problem resolution and provide assistance to the people affected by the flood in Chiang Mai Province and the adjacent areas of Lamphun Province. The work was carried out in 2 parts as follows:
1. Disaster relief operation team (evacuating people, facilitating travel, and distributing food and survival supplies) working last night in Muang Chiang Mai and Mae Taeng districts, organized a crisis response team (ERT) with high-lift trucks and flat-bottomed boats with engines.
2. Flood pumping/drainage operation team in the downstream areas of Chiang Mai Province and the border of Lamphun Province, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation has installed high-performance flood pumps with a pumping capacity of 50,000 liters/minute in important strategic areas to accelerate the drainage of the original mass of water so that the downstream
areas can accommodate the new mass of water and can drain water into the Kuang River and the Ping River.
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) informed the meeting about the water situation in Mae Sai District, Chiang Rai Province, that the water level has decreased and the situation is returning to normal. The flooding in the area over the past 1-2 days is a flood, there is no new mudslide, only mudslides remaining from the first phase of flooding.
Mr. Jirayu added that in the first phase progress monitoring meeting in Chiang Rai Province to rehabilitate and provide assistance to the people yesterday (October 4, 67), Ms. Thirat Rattanawanich, Deputy Minister of Interior as Chairwoman of the Front Operations Center for Flood, Storm and Landslide Victims (Front Operations Center, Chiang Rai Province), along with Gen. Nattapol Nakphanit, Deputy Minister of Defense as Advisor to the Front Operations Center, Chiang Rai Province and relevant agencies, summarized the first phase action plan.
Currently, personnel from the Ministry of Defense and various military units have come down to the point to help the people, clean up the mud from their homes, and expedite the public utilities, including electricity, water and telephone signals, which are expected to be completed according to the original framework. As for the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, it reported on the monitoring of assistance to the Mae Taeng Elephant Village in Mae Taeng District, Chiang Mai Province, by moving 123 elephants to higher ground, leaving only 9 elephants because they are fierce elephants. Elephant experts have been contacted to provide assistance.
Source: Thai News Agency