NAKHON RATCHASIMA – A downpour in Muang district lasting more than three hours on Monday night caused flooding in several areas.
On some sections of Mitraphap Road, the main road from Bangkok to northeastern provinces, the water was as deep as 50 centimetres. Police temporarily closed those sections as small vehicles trying to pass through were at risk of their engines stalling and being stranded. The road closure caused traffic jams stretching back a few kilometres.
The flooding also caused damage to many houses in Muang district.
Flooding in Muang district, Nakhon Ratchasima, on Monday night.
Provincial governor Thongchai Lueadul said Muang district had experienced the heaviest rainfall, with 99 millimetres over the period, while Chok Chai district had around 40mm.
Provincial authorities were coordinating with local administrations to try to pump the rain water into public reservoirs to help relieve the drought.
Suthirot Kongkaew, director of Lam Takong Operation and Maintenance Water Project, said Lam Takong dam in Sikhiu district received 1.2 million cubic metres of water inflow on Tuesday after the heavy rain on Monday night, an average fall of 44.6 millimetres.
As of Tuesday morning, the dam had 53 million cubic metres of water, or 16% of capacity, and was discharging 430,000 cubic metres each day for consumption by people in the province.
Meanwhile, farmers below the dam have pumped water from the public waterway to water their rice fields.
Water is being pumped into a rice field after heavy rain in Sikhiu district.