The Chao Phraya River, a lifeline for many, continues its dramatic rise as it flows through tambon Phong Pheng in the Pa Mok district of Ang Thong and tambons Ban Kum and Bang Chanee in the Bang Ban district of Ayutthaya. This Saturday, the river’s waters crept ever higher, causing rising anxiety among the local residents. (Photo: Nakhon Sawan Public Relations Office)
Nature’s fury was on full display as the Chao Phraya Dam was overwhelmed, bursting its banks and unleashing a torrent of water. The deluge played havoc with low-lying areas outside the protective flood embankments in Pa Mok district, situated in Ang Thong province. Three villages in tambon Phong Pheng bore the brunt of the floodwaters. Over 20 houses were submerged under a formidable 40 to 50 centimeters of water, transforming serene homesteads into submerged islands.
Montri Torsillapakit, the dedicated chairman of the Phong Pheng tambon administration organization, rolled up his sleeves and rallied his team to action. Amidst the chaos, they erected sandbag barriers and constructed earthen dykes in a valiant effort to stem the flood’s advance.
Raksak Thienchai, commander of the Pa Mok district, conveyed that help was on the way. Relief items and emergency supplies were being organized to support the affected families. The Chao Phraya Dam in Chai Nat was discharging water downstream at an alarming rate of 1,899 cubic meters per second, exacerbating the situation, Raksak disclosed.
The looming threat wasn’t unanticipated, though. The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) had rung the alarm bells earlier, cautioning 11 central provinces straddling the Chao Phraya River to brace for the surge. The Chao Phraya Dam in Chai Nat had accelerated its pace of water release, prompting swift preparatory action.
Det Lekwichai, the intrepid acting director-general of RID, sounded the clarion call on Thursday, urgently notifying governors of Uthai Thani, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Suphan Buri, Ayutthaya, Lop Buri, Pathum Thani, Nonthaburi, Samut Prakan, and Bangkok. With the river swelling ominously, it was essential to prepare for potential inundation.
This rising wave of water in the Chao Phraya River has justifiably stoked apprehensions among residents in tambon Phong Pheng of Ang Thong and tambons Bang Chanee and Ban Kum in Ayutthaya’s Bang Ban district. Their anxiety mounts with each centimeter the river gains, casting a palpable spell of tension over these communities.
This is such a scary situation for the residents. My heart goes out to them.
It’s awful, but why wasn’t more done to prevent this? We’ve known about the potential for flooding for years.
True, there should’ve been better planning. It’s just so heartbreaking to see the aftermath.
Nature is unpredictable. Blaming the authorities doesn’t help these people right now.
I’m not just blaming; I’m pointing out the need for long-term solutions. We need to address the root causes, not just react to disasters.
This is a clear sign of climate change! When will we start taking this seriously?
Oh, please. Flooding has always happened. Stop making everything about climate change.
It’s more frequent and severe now. Ignoring the data won’t change the reality.
Regardless of the cause, the focus should be on aiding the affected people immediately.
Impressive response by the local officials. Sandbags and earthen dykes can make a big difference.
Yes, but these are temporary fixes. What about the long-term structural solutions?
Sometimes temporary fixes are all you can do in an emergency. Real solutions take time and lots of money.
20 houses submerged under 40 to 50 cm of water! Can you imagine the damage and the loss these families are facing?
Absolutely devastating. Hopefully, the relief efforts can provide some immediate support.
Always the same story every year. Act now or repent later!
Exactly, we need to learn from these disasters and implement preventative measures.
Why aren’t other countries stepping in to help? Flooding can have global implications.
International aid should be an option, but countries should also strengthen their own infrastructure for better resilience.
The pace of water release from the dam is shocking. 1,899 cubic meters per second? That’s a disaster waiting to happen.
It is a lot, but managing such high volumes is incredibly complex. The real solution lies in improving overall water management strategies.
We can’t keep ignoring the signs. More investment in flood defenses is crucial.
Totally agree. Prevention is always better than cure.
What about the wildlife in these areas? We always focus on humans but forget other living beings.
I hope the local residents receive ample compensation for their losses.
These floods will ruin farmland too. Food prices might go up. The impact is wide-reaching.
The effects of this flooding will be felt for years, economically and environmentally.
Seems like there’s a need for better scientific tools and forecasting models to predict these floods more accurately.
Yes, and the funding for such research needs to be prioritized.