Flood Warned as Phetchaburi Dam Set to Overflow

Water is being pumped out of the almost full Kaeng Krachan Dam in Phetchaburi province on Saturday.
Water is being pumped out of the almost full Kaeng Krachan Dam in Phetchaburi province on Saturday.

PHETCHABURI — Officials on Monday warned Phetchaburi province to brace for floods as water is expected to overflow a major dam by this afternoon.

The Phetchaburi irrigation department said the Kaeng Krachan Dam, about 200 kilometers south of Bangkok, had received up to 708 million cubic meters of water as of this morning – 99.7 percent of its capacity. The disaster department reported that almost 100,000 people were affected by flood and landslide in 27 provinces in recent weeks.

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The overflowing water could cause floods in five districts including Phetchaburi city, according to Chayapol Thitisak, director general of the disaster department. The flood is expected to last about two months.

Provincial irrigation director San Chorncharoen said the dam has been releasing about 10 million cubic meters of water daily, but could reach full capacity by noon today.

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The national weather agency forecast more rain nationwide this week. Officials said 20 provinces, especially in the northeast and central regions, are at risk of flash floods as major rivers and dams countrywide continue to swell due to continuous rainfall.