The Bhumibol and Sirikit dams still have sufficient capacity to hold water, with assurance that there will be no repeat of the notorious 2011 floods, according to the National Water Resources Office (ONWR).
Paitoon Kengkarnchang, deputy secretary-general of the ONWR, said yesterday that water levels in the Ping and Nan river basins have pushed the Bhumibol, Sirikit, and Kwae Noi dams to over 90% capacity, with water discharge now relying on the cascade spillway to manage the flow.
While Bangkok and its surrounding provinces are still largely dry, the heavy rain caused by Typhoon Bualoi has led to severe flooding at the back of Sirikit Dam in Uttaradit’s Thong Saen Khan and Nam Pat districts. To prevent overflow, the dam is releasing an additional 25 million cubic metres daily.
Bhumibol Dam has cut down its release to 5 million m³ per day, sending about 2,800-2,900 m³ per second towards the Chao Phraya Dam. With excess water in Pak Nam Pho, water from both sides of the Chao Phraya River is being diverted via the Tha Chin, Noi and Pasak rivers to Ayutthaya to minimise impact.
Prime Minister Anutin Charnvirakul has ordered urgent assistance for affected communities and requested that the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation consider providing compensation. He stressed that, unlike in 2011, dams remain under control and Bangkok can still withstand water release of up to 3,500 m³ per second.
In Bangkok and its vicinity, officials said that during periods of high tides, some areas outside the flood barriers in Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani may be impacted, though only slightly, thanks to the Lat Pho Canal, which helps divert excess water.
In Ayutthaya, where the Chao Phraya Dam has already raised its rate to 2,400 m³/sec, 11 districts, 139 tambons, and 795 villages remain flooded, affecting 41,551 households, with three deaths reported.