Mae Klong Flood Worsens, Evacuation Urged as Water Rises

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Sitang Pilailar, a lecturer in the Water Resources Engineering Department at Kasetsart University’s Faculty of Engineering, posted on her personal Facebook page Sitang Pilailar with an update on the flood and rain situation: 'As of September 30, 2069 at 10:40 AM, everyone, I am trying to update rain and flood data. Today the worst affected is the Mae Klong river, flowing downstream from Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Samut Songkhram, and parts of Suphan Buri and Nakhon Pathom that receive water from the Mae Klong. At noon today the discharge will be 2,500 cubic metres per second. The situation is as severe as the 1982 flood. Evacuate, move belongings, or relocate – take care of yourself!!! → Prachin Buri: Floodwaters already present will rise another half metre. Areas including Ban Sang, Prachin Buri, and Chachoengsao (formerly Bang Kla, Khlong Khuean) will remain serious until it clears, likely in about a week. Choose to raise, move, or evacuate. Note: patient transfer from Abhaibhubejhr Hospital has begun; evacuation centres are located – seek news within the province. → Reservoirs are near or at full capacity: Pasak, Kaeng Krachan, Khun Dan, Vajiralongkorn; need to release water, riverside areas, tourist rafts, manage yourself, get out of riverside zones, move belongings uphill where flooding occurred before will flood again. → Phetchaburi: Overflow from drainage canals but not yet reaching the city; riverside areas consider raising or moving. → For the Chao Phraya Dam, the figure of 2,500 is certain; may reach 2,800 this afternoon – I will update again. Riverside areas plus Bang Ban and Bang Sai: if you can move, do so.'