Flood fears subside but risk remains
The Royal Thai Navy
is on standby
is ready to supply more boats to speed up the project.
Excess water
in Phetchaburi's Kaeng Krachan dam
had crossed the spillway
as of press time last night
but the central municipality was not expected to be flooded
Because due to the province's comprehensive flood-drainage and management plan.
Samrueng Saengphuwong
said
Initial overflow from the dam was predicted to hit the municipality at midnight but fears of the Phetchaburi River bursting its banks had subsided by the early evening
the situation was no longer deemed critical and remains manageable, noting that residents still had enough time to move their belongings to higher ground and reinforce flood dykes.
Spillover from the dam is expected to peak
Wednesday
Thursday
with floods projected to strike late next Monday
adding that without rain the floodwater level was unlikely to surpass 30cm.
But if the flow rate from Phetchaburi dam, which receives water from the Kaeng Krachan dam, exceeds 170 cubic metres of water per second, the level could rise to 50cm
With high tides expected over the weekend, efforts to drain the floodwater into the Gulf of Thailand may not happen as quickly as was originally hoped
deputy secretary-general of the Office of National Water Resources.
Local irrigation officials
are speeding up work to dredge four irrigation canals
so more floodwater can be drained from Phetchaburi dam.
This is one of several measures to
minimise flooding in Phetchaburi's Muang municipality.
reduce the flow of water into the Phetchaburi River
Thaweesak Thanadecho
deputy chief of the Royal Irrigation Department
said
irrigation canals would be opened to receive water due to be drained into the sea from Friday.
The goal is to discharge water from the Phetchaburi Dam to
140-160 cu/m per second
minimise flooding in several districts
Water pumps and water-propelling boats are working together to drain more water into the sea,
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