Residents in four districts of Phetchaburi and low-lying areas have been advised to move their belongings to higher ground as the Royal Irrigation Department (RID) is releasing more water from the Phet dam.
Thongplew Kongjun, the RID deputy director-general, said the department has alerted authorities in the districts of Nong Ya Plong, Ban Lat, Kang Krachan, and Tha Yang and those in low-lying areas along Phetchaburi River to possible flooding. They were also told to reinforce flood dykes in the area.
He said the water discharge rate from the Phet dam will increase from 197 to 250 cubic metres per second because run-off above the dam is increasing after heavy rain.
Huay Mae Prachan reservoir located above the dam is also releasing water at 100 cubic metres per second, he said.
The increase in discharge rate from Phet dam will make the water level in the Phetchaburi River in Tha Song Yang district increase by about one metre while the water level from Ban Lat to Muang district will rise by 50cm, he said.
He said the river in these districts will not burst its banks, but the low-lying areas from Ban Tai Muang in Muang district to Ban Laem district will be inundated.
Floods have covered much of Phetchaburi province since last week, including the main highway. (Photo courtesy Royal Thai Army)
Mr Thongplew said water pumps have been installed to drain flood water into the river and powerboats deployed in Phetchaburi River to increase the water flow rate to the sea.
Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has warned that temperatures in the Northeast will drop by 3-5 degrees because of a strong high pressure from China from Monday through Wednesday.
A high pressure ridge will cover upper Thailand during the next two days, which will result in rain, a drop in temperature and strong winds. The Northeast is the first to be affected.
In the South, a strong northeast monsoon across the Gulf and the South of Thailand is likely to cause isolated heavy to very heavy rain. People are warned about 2-3 metre waves and small ships have been advised to stay ashore during the period.