Chao Phraya Dam Reduces Outflow to Accelerate Flood Drainage

On October 30, 2026, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit revealed the Royal Irrigation Department has continuously reduced water discharge from the Chao Phraya Dam, bringing it down to 700 cubic metres per second today. This helps lower water levels in the Chao Phraya River and accelerates pumping of floodwater from low-lying areas, alleviating public distress and enabling farmers to return to cultivation quickly. Meanwhile, the heavy rain situation in the South is beginning to ease, but authorities must remain vigilant until the rainy season concludes.

Minister Suriya said he received a report from Royal Irrigation Department Director-General Witthaya Kaewmee that the water situation in the Chao Phraya basin is improving. The department has gradually reduced the discharge rate through the dam, most recently from 800 to 700 cubic metres per second at 6:00 a.m. today (October 30), and will maintain this rate. A discharge of 700 cubic metres per second does not cause the river downstream to overflow its banks into low-lying areas outside the levees, allowing water levels there to gradually recede back within the banks and making pumping of remaining floodwater into the river more convenient and efficient.

The Minister instructed the department to mobilize pumps and machinery to expedite drainage from low-lying areas to relieve public hardship and allow farmers to resume planting as soon as possible, while managing to retain some water in fields for farmers to prepare plots for the new production cycle.

Director-General Witthaya Kaewmee stated the department is ready to follow the Minister's orders, urgently deploying pumps and machinery to assist flood-hit areas, while closely monitoring rainfall and water conditions nationwide, especially in the South where heavy rain in recent days has begun to decrease, though heavy rain still occurs in some areas of Prachuap Khiri Khan and Phuket. According to 24-hour accumulated rainfall data from the Hydro-Informatics Institute (Public Organization) on October 30, Prachuap Khiri Khan recorded a maximum of 143 millimetres at Ban Sai Khao Station in Bang Saphan District, while Phuket recorded a maximum of 124 millimetres at Saphan Damrong Station in Mueang Phuket District.

The Meteorological Department said the remaining rain in the South is due to lingering wind and moisture from a low-pressure system that has already moved into the Andaman Sea, causing heavy rain to ease and trend downward in the near term. However, rain may increase again around November 5-6, particularly on the Gulf of Thailand side of the South.

Mr. Witthaya said the department will continue to closely monitor rainfall, water conditions, and reservoir levels, adjusting water management plans for maximum efficiency according to each area's situation to minimize impacts on the public and agricultural land, especially in the South where continuous vigilance on rain and water conditions is required until the rainy season ends.