Flooding in the southern region of Thailand has put the National Water Resources Office (ONWR) on high alert.
Surasee Kittimonthon, secretary general of Thailand's National Meteorological Service, expressed concern yesterday and revealed that the situation is expected to remain severe in the coming days, as weather forecasts expect continued heavy rainfall.
The Southern Regional Water Management Center, led by Surasee, is particularly concerned about the southernmost provinces, where flooding has caused severe damage to homes and farmland. Local authorities are closely monitoring the rainfall in the Sukhirin and Waeng districts of Narathiwat Province.
Heavy rainfall was also seen in the Muang, Bannag Sata and Krong Pinang districts of Yala Province, Thailand, as well as in some areas near Pattani. In some cases, people were forced to leave their homes, and many had to climb onto rooftops to wait for rescue from rising floodwaters.
The Bang Lang Dam is an important source of water for the Pattani River in Yela, Thailand, with a capacity of 1,242.45 million cubic meters as of yesterday. This is equivalent to 85% of its capacity. As dams approach their limits, their ability to cushion the effects of ongoing flooding is decreasing.
Thai Prime Minister and Finance Minister Srettha Thavisin traveled to Narathiwat on Tuesday to assess the situation in the southern region. The visit highlighted the severity of the floods and the urgent need for continued monitoring and response measures.
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