Flooding in Tak, rains from Typhoon Utor could affect north

Several villages in Tambon Chong Khaep of Phop Phra district are also under water and state officials and volunteers have helped affected residents to move their belongings to higher ground and are directing traffic away from the torrent-hit road sections. Although the floodwaters receded fast in Mae Sot, mayor Terdkiat Chinsoranant instructed officials and residents to be ready for a flood emergency as rain continued to fall in this western province. The municipality also prepared sandbags for distribution to residents free of charge to protect their shops and homes.

In Uthai Thani, runoffs from Nakhon Sawan province’s Mae Wong Forest poured into Muang district’s Tambon Thung Yai waterways, prompting officials to closely monitor any overflow. The Wang Rom Klao Dam opened three sluice gates by 60 centimetres to release excess water at a rate of six million cubic metres a day to the Sakae Krang River downstream to prevent flooding in Mueang, Thap Than and Sawang Arom districts. 

In related news, Lamphun’s meteorological station director Wichan Tinnowet warned that Typhoon Utor was situated 500 kilometres east of Hainan Island and moving north-west at 20 kph. It was expected to make landfall in China’s Guangdong province on Wednesday. The effects of the typhoon could bring rainfall and cause flash flooding and forest runoffs in the North and residents in at-risk areas have been told to closely monitor the weather forecast, 

Meanwhile 30 riverside homes and 500 rai of longan orchards in four villages of Tambon Pratu Pa and Rimping in Lamphun’s Muang district were under 30cm of floodwater.