KANCHANABURI: Communities below the Vajiralongkorn dam in Thong Pha Phum district of this western province have been warned to take precautions as the dam's water discharge will increase to 53 million cubic metres per day next week, dam director Waiwit Saengpanich said on Sunday.
Mr Waiwit said as the water in it has continued to increase, it is necessary for the dam to adjust the water discharge plan.
From today until Aug 22, the water discharge will be 43 million cu/m per day, and between Aug 23-27 the discharge will go up to 53 million cu/m per day, he said.
Mr Waiwit said communities below the dam and agencies concerned have been informed of the adjustment so that they can take precautions. He affirmed that the dam is still strong, with high security, and manned by officials around the clock.
At 8am on Sunday, the Vajiralongkorn dam was holding 7,954.85 million cu/m of water or 90% of its capacity. The water inflow was 104.97 million cu/m yesterday and is expected to rise in the next few days, he said.
On learning that the dam will discharge more water, people living in low-lying areas along the Kwai Noy River and operators of rafts and resorts in Thong Pha Phum, Sai Yok and Muang districts were reportedly preparing to move their belongings to high grounds.
Meanwhile, Prasert Inthap, director of Srinagarind dam in Si Sawat district, revealed that on Sunday morning the dam was holding 15,673.81 million cu/m of water, 88% of its capacity, and is discharging water at the rate of 23 million cu/m per day.
In Sangkhla Buri district, an area north of the Vajiralongkorn dam, about 80 houses in two villages in tambon Nong Lu have been flooded.
The famous Uttamanusorn or Sapan Mon wooden bridge at Ban Nong Lu is now less than 3 metres above the water while Wat Wangwiwekaram, the underwater temple, is now almost completely submerged.