Samut Songkhram Governor Requests Dam Outflow Cut After Floods
Samut Songkhram’s governor has asked the regional irrigation authority to reduce water releases from the Mae Klong Dam after heavy rains and excessive dam outflows flooded over 35,000 rai of farmland. He said the situation has left homes underwater and threatened about 1,500 rai of crops with total loss. The request is timed to coincide with a period of low sea levels that will help flush floodwaters out to sea.
On October 17, Governor Chaychai Saeng-in explained that the province’s suffering stems from prolonged heavy rain and dam releases exceeding normal crisis levels, surpassing 1,000 cubic metres per second for over fifteen days. This has caused widespread flooding of residences and left 35,017 rai of agricultural land damaged, with an estimated 1,500 rai facing total loss. After a water‑situation meeting on October 16 and analysis of oceanographic data from the Royal Thai Navy’s Hydrographic Department, officials noted that sea levels at the Mae Klong mouth will stay below 3.50 metres above low tide from October 17 to 26, creating an opportune period to push floodwaters out to sea. Consequently, the province issued an urgent request to the director of Irrigation Office Region 13 to cut the dam’s outflow, aiming to improve drainage, alleviate public distress, and reduce further crop damage.
