An elderly man defiantly swims out to collect relief supplies in the Bang Ban district of Ayutthaya. His home had been submerged for weeks in 2021. (File photo: Pattarapong Chatpattarasill)
The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) has issued a stark warning to residents in parts of Ayutthaya, urging them to brace for impending flash floods due to an unrelenting surge in the Chao Phraya River. Authorities are vigilantly monitoring two primary water stations to gauge the situation.
Declared on Wednesday, the RID cautioned those living near Khlong Phong Pheng in Ang Thong and the banks of Khlong Bang Ban in the Bang Ban district, alongside the neighboring areas of Phak Hai district in Ayutthaya. These regions, nestled in low-lying plains, are at a heightened risk of flooding.
Amid the brewing storm, the ‘Ayutthaya Station’ Facebook page has erupted in criticism, lambasting the government’s inadequate compensation for residents already grappling with rising water levels.
Adding to the tension, the water discharge rate at the Chao Phraya barrage dam in Chai Nat has surged to between 1,400 and 1,500 cubic meters per second, a sharp increase from the previous week’s 900-1,400 cubic meters per second.
At the C13 Station, located near the Chao Phraya barrage, the water flow clocked in at an intense 1,498 cubic meters per second. On Wednesday, the C2 water station in the Muang district of Nakhon Sawan — upstream from the barrage — saw an escalation to 1,529 cubic meters per second.
Surasee Kittimonthon, the secretary-general of the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR), painted a grim picture, predicting that the current widespread rainfall could potentially push the C2 station’s discharge rate to 2,500 cubic meters per second and the C13 station to 2,000 cubic meters per second in the forthcoming days.
Surasee added a silver lining, noting that major dams like the Bhumibol in Tak, Sirikit in Uttaradit, and Kwae Noi Bamrung Dan in Phitsanulok still have enough capacity to absorb more water. Additionally, water catchment areas are being opened to help manage the excess flow.
The people residing in Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Pathum Thani, and Nonthaburi stand on high alert for potential flash floods, as the relentless river shows no sign of abating.
Meanwhile, Somkuan Tonjan, the director of the Thai Meteorological Department’s Meteorological Observation Division, forecasted that tropical storm Yagi is anticipated to unleash heavier rains on the North and upper Northeast regions from September 8th to 13th.
This is insane! The government always fails us when we need them the most. How can they not have better flood prevention measures in place?
Totally agree! They only care about the cities and forget about us in the rural areas.
Right, but isn’t this a recurring problem? We should be used to this by now.
Yeah, but getting used to it doesn’t solve the issue. We deserve better infrastructure and support.
It’s not just the government’s fault. Climate change is real, and everyone needs to take responsibility.
True, but are we supposed to just sit around and wait for the water to come? The government needs to be proactive!
You can’t blame the government for everything. Natural disasters are beyond anyone’s control.
But they could have warned people earlier! Lives are at stake here.
Exactly! The warning systems are outdated and ineffective.
We need to invest in better technology. This is ridiculous in this day and age.
What kind of compensation are they offering? I’ve heard it’s barely enough to cover the damages.
I’ve heard the same. Some people are barely getting enough to rebuild their homes.
Well, it’s better than nothing. At least they’re offering something.
What’s the point of compensation if you have to go through this every year? They should fix the root cause.
Fixing the root cause would require massive investment. Do you really think the government will do that?
Maybe they should. Long-term solutions are better than short-term patches.
Why aren’t more people talking about the environmental impact of all this flooding on wildlife?
You’re right. Flooding destroys habitats, and that’s rarely discussed.
I think this has more to do with poor urban planning and overdevelopment. We’ve been building without considering nature.
It’s really sad to see people losing their homes. We need a more humane approach to this crisis.
Exactly. The focus should be on saving lives and providing shelter first.
I think it’s time for communities to come together and help each other out. Sometimes, we can’t rely on the government for everything.
That’s a good point. Local communities often know best what they need.
Is anyone setting up relief funds or volunteer groups? I want to help but don’t know how.
There are a few on social media. You can check Facebook groups and local organizations.
Thanks, I’ll look into that!
More needs to be done to educate people about flood preparation. Many don’t know what to do when it happens.
Can’t they just build more dams and levees to control the water? Seems like an easy solution.
It’s not that simple. Building dams and levees takes time and money. Plus, they can have environmental downsides.
It’s pretty clear that we need a multi-faceted approach here, blending technology, community action, and government intervention.
Blaming the government won’t fix the problem. We need to focus on actionable solutions and community resilience.
True, but we still need to hold them accountable for their shortcomings.
Absolutely. Accountability is important, but let’s also focus on what we can do right now to help.
I’m really worried about my family in the affected areas. Any tips on how to help them prepare?