The ONWR Secretary-General emphasized that the provinces along the Mekong River should prepare for the situation of rising water levels in the Mekong River from heavy rain in the North, Northeast and Laos, coupled with the monsoon trough moving down across the Northeast, Lower North and Upper Central regions, resulting in more rain. The latest report is that there will be an increase in water discharge from the Xayaburi Dam, which is expected to cause water to overflow the banks in Loei, Nong Khai and Bueng Kan provinces.
Mr. Surasee Kittimondol, Secretary-General of the Office of National Water Resources (ONWR), said that he had met with relevant agencies to monitor and prepare for the situation of the Mekong River water level that will increase from September 12-16 due to the heavy rain accumulated in the North, Northeast, and Lao People’s Democratic Republic due to the influence of Typhoon Yangi, even though it has weakened into a low-pressure cell in Laos, it will cause heavy rain as mentioned. In addit
ion, during September 13-17, 2024, the monsoon trough will move down across the lower North, upper Central, and Northeast into a low-pressure cell in central Vietnam, causing Thailand to have more rain and heavy to very heavy rain, which will result in the water level in the Mekong River area tending to increase continuously.
ONWR predicts that the water level in Chiang Khan District, Loei Province will be 0.50-1.50 meters above the bank, while in Mueang Nong Khai District, Nong Khai Province and Mueang Bueng Kan District, Bueng Kan Province, the water level will be 1.50-2.50 meters above the bank during 13-16 September 2024. As for Chiang Rai, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen and Ubon Ratchathani Provinces, the water level tends to increase but remains below the bank.
As for concerns about whether flooding in Vietnam caused by Typhoon Yangi into the Mekong River will affect Thailand, it is confirmed that it will not. However, the latest report is that Laos will increase water discharge from the Xayab
uri Dam at a rate of 22,000 cubic meters per second. What the ONWR is concerned about is that when heavy rain continues in areas along the Mekong River in Thailand, it will make water discharge from tributaries more difficult.
The ONWR Secretary-General said that the information has been reported to the provinces along the Mekong River to prepare for the situation and prepare guidelines for taking care of the people, including preparing evacuation plans to reduce risks to life and property, setting up shelters, moving bedridden patients in communities, and monitoring vulnerable areas, such as building dams to prevent water overflow in hospital areas, etc.
In addition, the Royal Irrigation Department and related agencies have been assigned to accelerate the drainage of water from reservoirs with a large volume of water because it is expected that the water flowing into the reservoir will continue to increase. In addition, it has been emphasized that measures must be put in place to prevent impacts on people
in downstream areas, such as strengthening water barriers, pumping water, and removing obstacles in waterways. Water management plans should be made for the overall watershed or group of basins in accordance with measures to cope with the rainy season in 2023/2024 instead of managing each dam individually.
ONWR is seeking cooperation with countries in the Mekong River Basin through the Mekong River Commission (MRC), especially with Myanmar under the Mekong-Lancang Cooperation Framework, in order to request the installation of rainfall and runoff measurement devices in case of heavy rain in Myanmar. The data will be used to promptly warn people in both Myanmar and Mae Sai District, Chiang Rai Province. It will also promote Myanmar to build reservoirs in the upstream area. Negotiations will be made to expedite the process. It also emphasized that the management of the Mekong River must manage the entire basin, from China, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Cambodia, and Vietnam, to effectively reduce the impact of flood
ing.
Source: Thai News Agency