PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN/PHETCHABURI - Floods triggered by heavy overnight rain swept through several communities in Prachuap Khiri Khan on Thursday morning, as neighbouring Phetchaburi province battled major flooding for the third day running.
In Prachuap Khiri Khan, torrential rain pounded Muang district around 1am, causing flooding in low-lying communities. Arkong village, Makham Failon community and Kittikhun School were among the worst hit. Floodwater in those areas was 50-80cm deep.
In Phetchaburi, the flooding entered the third day without any sign of improvement. Continuous rain over the past few days and the discharge of water from the brimming Phetchaburi dam flooded roads throughout the municipal area, and many homes.
Wing 5 of the Royal Thai Air Force on Thursday sent 200 personnel to help flood victims evacuate their belongings to higher ground and build sandbag walls along main roads in Muang district of Prachuap Khiri Khan.
Run-off from Tanao Sri mountain range flowed down into the Pran Buri River, raising the water level in Pran Buri dam. Now, the dam holds 120.5 million cubic metres of water, or 30% of its capacity of 391 million cu/m.
Widespread rain and mountain run off has helped alleviate water shortages in Hua Hin and Pran Buri districts.
Residents in tambon Huay Satyai of Hua Hin were placed on full alert and warned they could be flooded out.
Rewat Phongsuwan, chief of Phetchaburi disaster prevention and mitigation office, said the provincial irrigation office increased the discharge rate from Phetchaburi dam from 210 to 228 cubic metres per second on Thursday.
This had caused the level of the Phetchaburi River to rise in Tha Yang and Ban Leam districts. It was not overflowing its banks, Irrigation Department director-general Sanchai Ketworrachai said.
However, the water level would rise in low-lying areas of municipal Muang district and in Ban Leam district.
The department said flow of water into Huay Mae Prachan reservoir had dropped from 156 to 31 cubic metres a second on Thursday, resulting in a reduced flow of water into Phetchaburi dam. The dam would be able to cut back on the discharge rate from noon Thursday.
It was expected that all flooded areas would drain within two or three days if there is no more rain.
As of Wednesday, the flooding had affected at least 2,000 households in Phetchaburi city. The Salaloy-Na Morn housing estate in tambon Nong Sanoe was the hardest-hit neighbourhood, with floodwater rising to 1.5 metres and damaging 30 houses.