Northern Thailand flooding: Phichit’s Yom River water levels rise

The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) is closely monitoring the water levels in the Yom River in Phichit province, which has been rising steadily due to heavy rainfall in northern Thailand, particularly in Phrae and Phayao. This surge in water is expected to flow down to Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, and Phichit.

Chuchart Rakjit, the Director-General of the Royal Irrigation Department, announced yesterday, August 21, that the department issued warnings to residents in the Yom River basin to prepare for potential flooding. Plans have been put in place to manage the water flow in the basin, especially as large volumes of water are expected to flow down from Phrae.

Efforts are being made to delay the water flow upstream of the Had Saphan Chan floodgate, with some water being diverted into the Yom-Nan Canal through the Khlong Hok Baht floodgate. From there, the water will be released into the old Yom River and subsequently into the Nan River, said Chuchart.

“Downstream, the water will be channelled into the main Yom River while also being distributed through irrigation systems on both the left and right banks. This is to keep the water levels within suitable limits as it passes through Sukhothai town.”

Furthermore, coordination with relevant agencies is ongoing to manage water intake into the Bang Rakam fields without adversely affecting residents. Regular updates and warnings are being disseminated to ensure the community is well-informed about the situation.

The water level at monitoring station Y.20 in Song district, Phrae, reached a critical point at 6pm yesterday, with water flowing at a rate of 1,390 cubic metres per second, and the levels are expected to continue rising. Communities downstream in Sukhothai are advised to brace for potential flooding in low-lying areas within the next two days, reported KhaoSod.

In related news, flooding across Phuket wreaked havoc on travellers bound for the island’s international airport, as waterlogged roads sparked major disruptions.