Northeast flooding breaks records

[reader]

From The Nation

Badly flooded for two weeks, Ubon Ratchathani province in the Northeast on Friday (September 13) witnessed the worst situation in recent memory.

The Royal Irrigation Department is now pinning hopes on 100 propeller pumps being installed to speed the drainage of water into the Mekong River.

Warin Chamrap district reported the flood level at 10.83 metres above sea level on Friday morning, breaking records set in 2002 (10.77m) and 2011 (9.81m).

Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chalermchai Sri-on instructed RID director-general Thongplew Kongchan to establish a centre tomorrow (September 14) to tackle flooding in 25 districts and personally remain on duty there to direct multi-agency efforts to drain off water into the Mekong by month’s end.

With all water-retention areas along the Chi River brimming, from Roi Et to Yasothon and Ubon Ratchathani, propeller pumps have been installed to control the flow while normal pumps drain residential areas, Chalermchai said.

RID deputy chief Thaweesak Thanadechopol said Ubon was worst hit because of runoff from other provinces in the Chi and Mul river basins. He expects the flood level to peak at 15.7-15.8m on Friday between 11am and 1pm, then stabilise and drop.

https://www.nationthailand.com/news/30376161

[PeterRS]

Meanwhile Bangkok has enjoyed the longest monsoon rain free months I can ever recall. There have been a few storms but far fewer than over the last 15 years and each has lasted only 15 minutes or so instead of often one hour.