Rama VI Dam Issues Red Flag As Pasak River Swells
Rama VI Dam issued a red flag warning as the Pasak River swells from increased water releases, with authorities telling residents in Ayutthaya province to move belongings to higher ground ahead of expected water level rises.
AYUTTHAYA — Rama VI Dam has raised a red flag warning communities downstream as water levels in the Pasak River continue to rise following increased releases from the dam.
The warning applies to people living along both banks of the Pasak River in Tha Ruea, Nakhon Luang, and Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya districts, who have been urged to prepare for rising water and move belongings to higher ground.
Water levels are expected to rise by another metre, while communities outside flood barriers have already been affected.
At a community outside the flood embankment near Wat Sathu in Tha Ruea district, water has continued to rise and overflow into residential areas. Residents in vulnerable areas have begun moving belongings, appliances, and other property to higher ground.
Ekkachai Samniang Mai, head of the Water Allocation and Irrigation System Improvement Division at the Pasak Tai Water Delivery and Maintenance Project, said approximately 200 cubic metres per second of water was flowing into the Rama VI Dam area from the Chao Phraya River, while another 500 cubic metres per second was coming from the Pasak River, for a total inflow of around 700 cubic metres per second.
For water management, around 50 cubic metres per second is being diverted into the Rapee Phatthana Canal, while approximately 650 cubic metres per second is being released downstream.
Authorities had previously warned residents about planned releases of 600–700 cubic metres per second, which could raise Pasak River levels and cause water to overflow the banks, particularly in communities outside flood barriers.
Ekkachai said residents along the Pasak River in vulnerable areas had been repeatedly warned, with some communities already moving their belongings to higher ground. The red flag at Rama VI Dam serves as an additional warning for downstream communities to remain vigilant and prepare for further rises.
Rainfall is expected to decrease, which could make water management and releases easier and allow Pasak River levels to gradually fall. However, authorities are closely monitoring Pasak Jolasid Dam, which is currently about 96% full.
Authorities expect that water may need to be gradually released from Pasak Jolasid Dam within the next one to two days to prevent the water level from reaching the spillway.
Irrigation authorities have prepared plans to manage both rainfall and upstream water, while continuing to monitor water levels and issue warnings to communities in vulnerable areas. The red flag at Rama VI Dam remains in place as a warning for downstream residents to prepare for possible flooding and move valuables to higher ground.
