Mekong River Nears Crisis Level as Floods Submerge Roads
The Mekong River in Nakhon Phanom province is nearing critical flood levels, submerging roads and farmland across multiple districts as water rises to within 17 centimeters of the danger threshold. Authorities have closed tourist routes, ev
On August 11, 2025, the water level in the Mekong River at Nakhon Phanom province measured 11.83 meters, up 43 centimeters from the previous day, leaving only 17 centimeters before reaching the critical level of 12 meters. The rising water is pushing back tributary streams including the Songkhram, Thawi, and Kam rivers, causing them to overflow and flood agricultural areas across multiple localities, particularly along Suwannachai Road—a scenic tourist route stretching 6.5 kilometers from behind the Mekong River View Hotel through old town areas—where water levels average 50 centimeters to 2 meters. All vehicle traffic on this route has been completely prohibited.
In Ban Paeng district, heavy rainfall over the past week caused the Mekong to surge over its banks, flooding about 30 homes in Don Paeng village. Over 1,000 acres of farmland along the riverbank have been submerged. District officials have distributed relief supplies and are assisting elderly residents, bedridden patients, and vulnerable groups to move their belongings to higher ground in preparation for possible evacuation if water levels continue rising.
At Tha Uthen district, increased water flow has eroded a bypass road leading to Non Sawai village, Module 2, Pha Thai subdistrict, damaging a provincial road authority construction project route. Vehicles and motorcycles must now take a 10-kilometer detour via alternative routes. Village headman Tha Uthen requested the district chief to urgently coordinate with the provincial authority to repair the damaged bypass.
Provincial Governor Adisak Noisuwannon reported that the provincial government is prepared to close water gates if the Mekong reaches the warning level of 12.50 meters. Residents have already been alerted to move belongings to higher ground. If heavy rainfall occurs, water gates at multiple locations will be shut immediately. Region 7 Highway Authority has deployed 10 long-range pumping trucks to strategic points in Nakhon Phanom city, complemented by 20 municipal pumps ready for emergency deployment.
