BANGKOK, Oct 11 (TNA)

 

The water level in Thailand's Chao Phraya River as it is flowing through the upper central province of Nakhon Sawan has hit its highest level in the 60 years such data has been recorded, posing a flood threat to the kingdom's lower provinces, including Bangkok, the capital.

 

Waters being collected from the Chao Phraya watershed are converging on Bangkok, even as the capital is experiencing additional torrential rainfall and localised flooding.

 

Royal Irrigation Department director-general Samart Chokanapitak said the river's level in Bangkok is now at 2.02 metres now and won't cause flooding in the capital at present.

 

However, he said, he is concerned that the waterflow at Nakhon Sawan has increased to 5,145 cubic metres per second, surpassing the highest measured speed and volume of 4,800 cubic metres recorded when the worst flood occurred in 1995.

 

The increased water level in the Chao Phraya at Nakhon Sawan was caused by waters pouring in from from the flood-soaked Yom River carrying runoff from the North, he said.

 

According to the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, 17 provinces nationwide are now fully engaged in combating floods.

 

The meteorological department forecast that rainfall will decrease in the North, the Northeast, the East, and the Central regions, but more heavy rain is expected in the South particularly, in the upper south.

 

Local residents in Phetchaburi, Prachuap Khiri Khan, and Chumphon should brace for heavy rains, flash flooding, and forest run-off.

 

(TNA)-E004

Its being going on for years and as the King says until Management get it in order it will go on and on.... this year could be a record for sand bags and waer levels. Beware if you live in low areas by the river in BKK