BANGKOK, Sept 3 — Many provinces along Chao Phraya River basin were hard hit by flood as Singburi ordered closures of 16 schools in In Buri district while four districts in Phitsanulok were still affected by flood.
The increasing water level of the Chao Phraya River due to discharged water from the Chao Phraya Dam had flooded many government office buildings in Sing Buri including the district office, provincial police station and homes of local residents in In Buri district.
Mr Taweesak Numrit, Director of Singburi Primary Educational Service Area Office had ordered the temporary closure of 16 schools in In Buri for the safety of students.
In Nakhon Sawan province, the provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation office announced nine districts as flood disaster areas: Krok Phra, Chum Saeng, Phayuha Khiri, ThaTago, Tak Fa, Takhli, Kao Liao, Nong Bua as well as the provincial seat.
The flooding there had affected 21,988 households and 69,931 residents, while 153,000 rai of agriculture areas were damaged.
Nakhon Sawan municipality mayor Chitkasem Nirotthanarat said the water level in the Chao Phraya River had increased 10-20 centimeters every day and the municipality had to use pumps to drain the water and were keeping a close watch on the situation around the clock.
He had also instructed concerned officials to speed up the building of temporary dykes to prevent river water from spilling over its banks.
The flood situation in four districts of Phitsanulok- Bang Rakam, Bang Krathum, Phrom Phiram,and the provincial seat were critical because of the overflow of water from the Nan River.
Meanwhile, a flash flood from Phetchabun Mountain also added to the excess water in the districts.
Banana plantations were damaged and would affect the production of the famed dried banana of the province.
The 3rd Regional Office of Fine Arts Department, Phra Nakorn Si Ayutthaya province on Saturday also instructed officials to stay alert to prevent inundation of ancient remains in the old capital, as the level of water in the Chao Phraya River kept rising.
Temporary concrete dykes and sandbanks have been constructed around historical sites which lie along the country’s main river, such as Chat Wattanaram Temple and Thammaram Temple, with water pumping equipment on standby to help drain water immediately.
The construction of ridges surrounding the inner ancient areas which house a large number of historical ruins is also reportedly 50 percent complete.
Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Municipality will call a meeting of local communities on Tuesday to inform them about preventive and flood relief measures.
Meanwhile, the northeastern province of Maha Sarakham on Saturday declared its five villages in the provincial seat as flood disaster zones following continuous heavy rains.
The province also warned four districts in the Chee River basin, including Chiang Yuen, Kosum Phisai, Kantharawichai and the provincial seat, to be prepared for possible flood and for residents to evacuate their belongings to higher ground as the river’s water level continues rising some ten centimeters a day.
