Prasae Dam Overflows; Authorities Warn of Major Water Release
Prasae Reservoir in Rayong has exceeded maximum capacity at 112 percent full, forcing authorities to open spillway gates and release 24 million cubic meters of water daily, threatening communities downstream in Klaeng district.
As of September 28, 2024, flooding in Thailand's eastern region remains critical across multiple areas, particularly Rayong province, where rising water levels are now affecting numerous reservoirs. The Prasae Water Supply and Maintenance Project has issued urgent notice number 8 regarding the Prasae Reservoir in Rayong, where water levels have reached critical status.
The water level currently stands at 36.62 meters above mean sea level, exceeding the maximum level of 36.57 meters, with a volume of 331 million cubic meters—or 112.20 percent of the maximum capacity of 295 million cubic meters. To maintain dam stability and prevent failure, the project must reduce spillway gates to accelerate water discharge. An estimated 279.65 cubic meters per second, or 24.16 million cubic meters per day, is expected to flow through the spillway.
Based on current assessments and water volume forecasts through the morning of September 28, approximately 27.50 million cubic meters is expected to flow through Wang Chan district into Klaeng district. This will raise water levels in downstream areas of Klaeng that are already affected and may cause greater impact than previously anticipated.
Authorities urge residents of Klaeng district and those living along the Prasae River to immediately move belongings and valuables to higher ground or safe areas. The public is advised to closely monitor water conditions and official announcements from government agencies until the situation returns to normal.
