Chao Phraya Dam Boosts Outflow, Warns Riverside Communities to Evacuate
The Chao Phraya Dam has increased its outflow to 2,300 cubic metres per second to handle northern floodwaters expected to reach Ayutthaya on October 3. Authorities have warned riverside communities in Ayutthaya, Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani to prepare for possible evacuation, while other dams are also raising releases. A government hotline (1689) has been activated to offer financial aid and insurance support for flood‑affected residents.
Government spokesman Ekaphop Preetpisut spoke at the Joint Information Centre for Flood Situations (JICC) on October 1, 2069, saying Prime Minister Anutin Chanvirakul had ordered all agencies to prioritize flood relief, dispatch teams to hard‑to‑reach areas, and ensure food, water and medicine are ready. He stressed the need for unified communication with the public and preparation for additional rain expected October 4‑6, with provinces to use data from the JICD system. Governors of the Chao Phraya and Tha Chin river basins, together with the Bangkok governor, were told to remain on site and continue pumping water from areas where levels have receded. The Chao Phraya Dam’s outflow was raised to 2,300 cubic metres per second, as approved by the National Water Resources Committee, and will be increased in steps of 100 cubic metres per second if conditions improve, not exceeding 2,500 cubic metres per second. Water released from the Pasak Dam, which is above 100 % capacity, will flow into the Chao Phraya and affect Ayutthaya, Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani; residents there are advised to move belongings to higher ground and evacuate to shelters if necessary. In Kanchanaburi, the Vajiralongkorn Dam’s outflow has been increased to 500 cubic metres per second due to high inflow, while the Mae Klong Dam is releasing 2,200 cubic metres per second to protect areas upstream and downstream, warning residents in Ratchaburi and Samut Songkhram to prepare for possible evacuation. In Prachin Buri, the flood peak has passed, but low‑lying areas in Bang Kla and Bang Nam Priev are urged to relocate occupants and patients to prepared shelters. The Ministry of Finance has set up a flood‑relief hotline at 1689 to provide low‑interest loans, debt moratoriums and insurance claim assistance. Officials from the Office of National Water Resources said floodwaters are still around Nakhon Sawan and are moving southward, expected to reach the central plain in about one day.
