NAKHON PHANOM: The Mekong river is steadily rising and communities along its banks are being warned it's time to prepare for possible flooding.
Since the start of this month the water level has risen 10-15 centimetres per day, swollen by continuous rain.
On Tuesday morning, the river was about 6 metres high, 3m below the river bank edge, which is 9m, Authorities have begun closely monitoring the level.
A warning has been issued to communities along the river bank in Muang, Ban Phaeng, Tha Uthen and That Phanom districts to prepare for flooding, whether from excessive rain or the rising river level.
As requested by Niwat Jiawiriyaboonma, the mayor of Nakhon Phanom Municipality, inmates from Nakhon Phanom Central Prison are working with disaster prevention and mitigation officials to strengthen floodwalls and clean out the drains.
Four large water pumps have been installed along the river bank, in addition to existing ones, to help discharge flood water into the river and protect riverside communities.
