PHOTOS: The Nation
Authorities in Thailand’s northern and northeastern provinces are watching the rising water levels in the Mekong after torrential rains have hit large stretches of the country inflicting flooding in both residential and agricultural areas.
The Mekong river flows through parts of China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam.
The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department has instructed its workplaces in fifty nine provinces in all areas of the nation to be “fully prepared” for overflowing rivers, flash floods and landslides following days of heavy downpours, director-general Chayapol Thitisak mentioned yesterday. Of the 59 provinces, 17 are within the North, 20 in the Northeast, eight within the Central area and 14 within the South.
Riverside provinces like Chiang Rai, Mukdahan, Nakhon Phanom, Nong Khai and Ubon Ratchathani yesterday reported a unbroken increase in course of the critical level in the Mekong’s water levels. In Mukdahan, the river’s highest water stage was recorded at 12.3 metres, simply 18 centimetres below the financial institution.
After 15 days of downpours in Nakhon Phanom, water in the Mekong section passing the province stood at eleven.5 metres yesterday – 1.5 metres below the critical degree. This has led to many tributaries overflowing and flooding eight districts of Nakhon Phanom, prompting local authorities to declare them disaster zones.
Instantly ’s riverside Chiang Khong district noticed a sharp rise in the Mekong’s water levels to 7 metres, up from the traditional 3-4 metres, in comparison with the critical level of 10 metres. The district chief, Tassanai Suthapoj, stated he had convened a meeting of native directors about preparations for attainable flooding. He attributed the rise within the Mekong water volumes to heavy rains and further water launched from a dam in southern China.
Read more concerning the Mekong Flood Plains HERE.
In Ubon Ratchathani, many areas in 5 riverside districts were flooded because of overflows from the Mekong. Several roads connecting villages and other parts of the province turned impassable. Elderly villagers stated they believed this year’s rains could probably be the heaviest in 40 years. In 1978, heavy downpours had led to the Mekong overflowing and inflicting severe floods that hit large farming areas of the province.
Authorities in Nong Khai province yesterday warned residents in riverside areas to be prepared for attainable overflows from the Mekong, as water ranges continued to rise following days of heavy rains. All river shipping operators within the province have halted operations on the river due to security concerns. Meanwhile, 4 families within the Sop Moei district of the northern Mae Hong Son province had been evacuated yesterday after cracks developed of their homes as a outcome of land subsidence. Local officials said there was a threat of landslides following heavy rains within the space.
In Nan, another northern province, sixty five families within the Bo Kluea district requested state help for relocation after a landslide in their village left eight residents useless over the past weekend. The cremation of the eight landslide victims in Nan was held yesterday.
Large volumes of water launched from Laos’ dams have been blamed for floods in many riverside provinces on the Thai side. Chainarong Setthachua, a lecturer at Maha Sarakham University, mentioned he thought the imminent improve within the water levels in riverside areas was as a result of launch of water from Nam Theun 2 Dam in Laos. More release of water from Nam Ngum 5 Dam throughout the river could worsen the situation, he warned.
On the Laos aspect, flood victims in the Sanamxay district of Attapeu province were nonetheless in want of important items, especially meals, rice, ingesting water, clothes, blankets, medicines and different every day requirements. More than 10,000 individuals were relocated to shelter centres in Attapeu and Champassak provinces after inundation from a dam collapse hit thirteen villages..g