As the rhythmic waters of the Yom River continue to swell and cascade into the lives of Sukhothai’s residents, a call for aid rises with them. Local citizens, battling the relentless floodwaters for over two months now, are appealing to the government for relief as the torrential impact of Typhoon Yagi is set to exacerbate the situation. The deluge has submerged areas like tambon Pak Phra in Muang district and tambon Kong in Kong Krailat district, leaving an indelible mark on the community.
Among those affected is Wongduan Si-phongsai, a resilient 60-year-old resident of Koh Kong, an island nestled in the Yom River. Wongduan’s tranquil life has been disrupted by rising waters, cutting off access to her village. With a wistful gaze, she fears that her home will not see reprieve until the rains subside after the Loy Krathong festival in November.
Another local, who chose to remain anonymous, lamented the increasing discharge rate at the Yang Sai floodgate in Muang district. Thanks to the persistent run-off from Typhoon Yagi, which made its fierce landfall in Vietnam over the weekend, the floodgate is straining against nature. The increase has forced seven floodgates to open, diverting excess water downstream into Kong Krailat district in Sukhothai and Bang Rakham district in Phitsanulok.
Despite these measures, a temporary sigh of relief came as local authorities confirmed that water levels on the Yom River’s northern stretch were not at their critical peak, sitting at approximately 78.5% capacity. Yet, the sense of security wavered as water levels continued to rise in Phitsanulok; attempts to channel the overflow to the Nan River bore minimal fruits. On Monday, the Y64 water station in Bang Rakham district reported water levels at 7.8 meters, 1.4 meters above the embankment.
The floods wreaked havoc across many fluvial areas of the province on Monday. Phitsanulok’s governor, Phusit Somjit, revealed that at least 58% of water retention zones under the Bang Rakham model were inundated, stretching across 153,390 rai and awash with over 264 million cubic meters of water. Accompanied by Phimpitcha Supphakitcharoen, a Pheu Thai MP for Phitsanulok, the governor surveyed the flood-ravaged regions and distributed aid packages to the beleaguered locals in tambon Chum Saeng Songkhram.
In Ang Thong’s Sapphaya district, rice farmers witnessed their toil going under, forcing them to hurriedly harvest briefly planted rice crops in an attempt to mitigate flood damage. Despite these agricultural losses, they persist with a spirit undaunted by the watery adversity.
The Royal Irrigation Department (RID), while monitoring the situation closely, reported on Monday that the Chao Phraya barrage dam in Chai Nat dispensed water at a rate of 1,434 cubic meters per second. Conscious efforts will be made to maintain the discharge at a controlled rate of 1,500 cubic meters per second over the ensuing week to protect downstream areas from further flooding.
Despite reports of significant inundation across six provinces, the RID noted that only 47% of the water contained in the nation’s dams–amounting to 27.125 billion cubic meters–was currently usable. This data underscores the delicate balancing act of managing water resources amidst an unrelenting natural crisis.
As the ebb and flow of the Yom River continues, the resilience of Sukhothai’s residents shines through—a testament to their unyielding spirit and unwavering hope for timely intervention and lasting solutions.
The government should have been more prepared for these floods. It’s not like this is the first time something like this has happened!
Exactly. Every year we face this problem and nothing ever changes. Maybe it’s time for new leadership.
How do you expect them to prepare for a typhoon? These are natural disasters, after all.
The government has been doing its best with the resources they have. These are exceptional circumstances.
That’s just an excuse. Other countries manage their water resources better; why can’t we?
It’s heartbreaking to see the farmers lose their crops. They depend on these for their livelihoods.
Totally agree. The government should compensate them fully for their losses, not just with aid packages.
Compensation is one thing, but long-term solutions are what we really need. Sustainable agriculture and better flood management.
Perhaps this is a sign that we need to reevaluate our dependence on traditional farming methods.
Why are we not talking about the impact on the animals? Livestock and wildlife are also suffering!
Good point! My cows are knee-deep in water. The focus on human relief should include animal welfare.
Animal welfare is often overlooked, and it’s so frustrating. They’re part of our ecosystem too.
Maybe NGOs specializing in animal rescue could step in where the government falls short.
Honestly, how safe are these floodgates if they can’t manage the water levels properly? Time for technological upgrades!
We have the technology. The issue is budget allocation and political will.
So true. It’s always about money at the end of the day. Sad state of affairs.
Politics aside, immediate investments in infrastructure could save lives and property.
I wonder how tourism will be affected by this. Sukhothai is a historical gem!
Tourism will take a hit for sure. The floods could damage heritage sites, which are a big draw for visitors.
Even more reason for the government to act quickly. The whole economy could suffer.
What a mess. Does anyone even plan for this? The RID seems to be doing the best they can.
They are, but their ‘best’ isn’t enough. More proactive measures should’ve been taken before the typhoon hit.
Agreed. But at this point, we need to focus on the affected residents first.
We can’t just rely on the government. Local communities need to come together to find solutions.
Community-led initiatives are important, but there are limits to what people can do without substantial resources.
If only we considered renewable energy projects that could double as flood controls. Time to think outside the box!
Exactly! Solar and wind farms can be integrated with water management systems.
Glad someone else agrees. It’s the innovative solutions we need right now.
Innovations sound good, but who’s putting up the funds for these projects?
This disaster reveals the weaknesses in our infrastructure. We need to modernize before it’s too late.
I’m appalled by the lack of long-term planning for such events. Where do our taxes even go?
We should look at Singapore as a model for water management. They’re way ahead of us in terms of technology and planning.
Singapore is a great example, but can we really apply their methods here? Different scale and resources.
What’s the point in blaming local authorities? This needs national attention and resources.
National attention, yes, but local action is just as crucial. Both levels need to work together.
We keep talking about the problems, but what are the solutions? It feels like we’re going in circles.
The international community should step in to provide relief and expertise.
That’s true to an extent, but we need internal growth and problem-solving skills too.