National —
On July 29th, 2024, Thai national media reported severe flooding in Chanthaburi and Trat due to continuous heavy rainfall.
Mr. Paitoon Kengkarnchang, the Deputy Secretary-General of the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR), stated that the convergence of the monsoon trough over northern Thailand and upper Laos, coupled with a moderate southwest monsoon, has resulted in increased rainfall and heavy downpours in parts of Thailand. This has particularly impacted the eastern region.
The ONWR deployed relevant agencies to Chanthaburi and Trat, utilizing the emergency front-line water command center in Rayong to coordinate efforts in addressing the flooding. Rainfall and water levels are expected to stabilize over the next 3-7 days, with ongoing alerts for local residents to stay informed and prepared.
In Chanthaburi, the past three days have seen heavy rainfall, with the Makham District recording 339 millimeters and Khlung District 330 millimeters. As a result, more than 3,400 households in 8 districts, and 32 sub-districts were affected by the flooding from July 27-30.
However, there is a possibility of a slight increase due to expected high tides on the evening of July 29th, with levels potentially rising by 20-30 centimeters before subsiding by early morning on July 30th.
Furthermore, the forecasts predicted 200-250 millimeters of rainfall in Chanthaburi from July 29-31, with heavy rains expected in Makham, Khlung, Khao Khitchakut, Mueang Chanthaburi, and Laem Sing districts. This will likely keep water levels in the Chanthaburi River stable for another 3-7 days.
In Trat, the past 24 hours saw significant rainfall and affected over 304 households, 3 government buildings, 5 boats, and caused flooding on 5 main highways.
Emergency response teams were deployed in Chanthaburi and Trat, with mobile units providing updates and irrigation department staff closely monitoring the situation. Local government and disaster prevention agencies are offering immediate assistance, distributing supplies, and working to drain the floodwaters.
ONWR and relevant agencies continue to monitor and address the flooding to minimize impacts on residents.
This article originally appeared on our sister website The Pattaya News.
