UTTARADIT, Oct 17 – The country’s three major dams on Sunday reduced the amount of water being released from their reservoirs to help relieve Thailand’s downstream flood problems.
The Sirikit Dam in Uttaradit province has cut the amount of water released from its reservoir to 20 million cubic metres per day from 50 million cubic metres.
The amount of rainfall upstream from the dam has fallen, so the measure has not impacted the water storage capacity or strength of the dam.
In Tak, the Bhumibol Dam cut its discharge to 50 million cubic metres per day. As a result, officials concerned were able to effectively manage the water in the Chao Phraya River basin. The dam is expected to further decrease the volume of released water if there is no more rain in the northern part of the country.
In Lop Buri, the Pasak Jolasit Dam reduced its amount of released water as well, aiming to lessen the impacts related to the volume of water flowing through the Rama VI Dam, Ayutthaya and other nearby provinces in the lower central region.
Meanwhile, the national Disaster Prevention and Mitigation service reported Sunday that flooding will continue in 26 provinces, affecting 2.3 million people. The death toll has risen to 297 with two persons still missing in Mae Hong Son and Uttaradit.
