CHIANG MAI, Aug 20 — All 25 districts of the northern province of Chiang Mai were declared disaster areas from flooding, to facilitate urgent assistance after continuous rains had caused many major rivers in the province to overflow river banks, according to Chiang Mai Governor Panadda Disakul.
She said more than 1,000 households in San Kamphaeng district were affected from the flood as the water level had reached more than 80 centimeters high.
The flooding damaged agriculture areas, public utilities, roads, bridges, and houses, while land slides were reported in many districts. However, there have been no reports of casualty.
In Nan province, the Nan River was reaching a critical point as water had overflowed to flood communities along river banks, while the Nan municipality had closed all watergates and was using four water pumps to drain the water.
Authorities had warned the public to be prepared for flooding as the municipality could use water pumps to delay the flood for only 10-12 hours.
In Lamphun, after two consecutive days of rain, the Kwang River had flooded six subdistricts of the provincial seat. Water levels reached one metre high in some areas.
The villagers had built makeshift dykes from sandbags to prevent further flooding.
In the central province of Sing Buri, the authorities had built a water prevention wall at Phrom Buri district to respond to increasing water levels of the Chao Phraya River.
Drainage was blocked to prevent the influx of water from the river while water pumps were used to lower water level.
In the northeastern province of Kalasin, Governor Wiroj Jiwarangsan had called for a meeting of agencies concerned to prepare a response to possible floods in 18 districts.
Until now, the Lam Pao Dam has been able to retain the excess water.
