Deputy Prime Minister Prawit Wongsuwon has ordered that the flood surging downriver from the North be retained in upstream provinces, and also be diverted to a canal to the east of Bangkok, to protect the capital from flooding.
Gen Prawit, who is in charge of water management, issued the order during a trip to see the situation first hand in Chai Nat and Ayutthaya provinces on Monday.
He said the amount of rainwater moving downstream was close to that which caused severe flooding in 2011. He had ordered officials to limit flooding in the lower basin of the Chao Phraya River, which includes Greater Bangkok.
Gen Prawit said the deluge would be directed to low-lying areas in provinces upstream, including Nakhon Sawan, to limit the volume of water flowing down the Chao Phraya River through Greater Bangkok.
Water would also be discharged from the Pa Sak River into the Raphiphat Canal east of Bangkok and thence to the sea, he said. The Pa Sak River adjoins the Chao Phraya River in Ayutthaya province.
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation on Monday reported flooding in parts of Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Buri Ram, Chai Nat, Chaiyaphum, Khon Kaen, Lampang, Lamphun, Nan, Nakhon Ratchasima, Pathum Thani, Phetchabun, Phichit, Phrae, Prachin Buri, Si Sa Ket, Sing Buri, Sukhothai, Tak, Ubon Ratchathani and Uttaradit provinces.
- Photos: Flooding in Chiang Mai
