In light of an impending meteorological distress expected to usher in heavy rainfall and potential flash floods from August 10 to 15, Thailand’s initiator-in-chief, Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, has declared an imperative directive for local authorities. His stern call to arms is driven by an avid need for necessary precautionary measures that align with the predicted weather pattern.
This urgent cry for vigilance stems from warnings echoed by the National Water Command Centre (NWCC), who have their gaze fixed upon the ever-swelling currents of the Mekong River. The river, it is purported, is destined to rise uncontrollably until the week peaks on Tuesday.
The PM’s fervent plea was dutifully relayed by deputy government spokesperson Rachada Dhnadirek. She highlighted the prime minister’s acute concern for the anticipated downpours and implored competent authorities to keep citizens, particularly those dwelling in flood-prone vicinities, abreast of the fluctuating weather patterns.
The NWCC has been closely scrutinizing the weather scenario, observing steadfast rains that have markedly upped the water levels in the lower terrain of the Mekong River. The provinces most drastically impacted by these floodwaters include Bolikhamxay province nestled in adjacent Laos. This, coupled with a low-pressure trough blanketing northern Vietnam and southern China, signals prospective heavy showers to drench Northern and Northeastern Thailand in the ensuing days, as reported by the Bangkok Post.
Dhnadirek responsibly stated, “Agencies operating within the boundaries of eight provinces situated along the Mekong River, following the Prime Minister’s cue, have been mobilized to strategize for anticipated floods. The threatened provinces include Chiang Rai, Loei, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen, and Ubon Ratchathani.” She additionally urged inhabitants of the Mekong Riverbank to maintain a heightened alertness and readiness for potential flash floods.
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) forewarns residents in the northern, northeastern and southern expanses of the country to gear up for impending showers. It further predicts that 60% of Bangkok and the neighboring provinces may intermittently be encumbered by thunderstorms in the afternoons and evenings in the days to come. The TMD also cautions that both the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand will encounter persistent south-westerly winds, expecting the waves to crest at one to two metres in the Gulf of Thailand, while waves could even exceed two metres in the Andaman Sea during stormy weather.
Meanwhile, road traffic previously impeded by the threat of landslides and subsidence has regained momentum with the installation of pre-fabricated Bailey bridges. However, motorists have been alerted to exercise utmost caution in light of potential landslides along the peripheries of mountainous regions.
As a part of the ongoing fortification efforts, over 100 inhabitants hailing from 27 families in the flood-riddled sub-districts of Bo Kluea Tai and Bo Kluea Nuea have been relocated to more secure shelters, safeguarding them from the wrath of the impending storms.
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