Mae Klong on red flood alert as runaway raft slams into dam gate
Kanchanaburi crews secured a raft at a dam gate as officials warned of peak flows of 2,500m³/s and urged residents to move belongings to safety
- The Mae Klong basin is under a red-flag flood alert as water discharge from the Mae Klong Dam reached 2,142 cubic metres per second, exceeding the critical flood threshold.
- An emergency response was launched after a runaway raft broke loose and struck one of the dam's sluice gates.
- Despite the collision, the dam remains structurally sound and operational, but officials warn peak water flow could increase to 2,500 m³/s, prompting evacuation warnings for low-lying areas.
The Mae Klong basin has entered a red-flag flood alert as downstream releases from Mae Klong Dam in Kanchanaburi reached 2,142 cubic metres per second (m³/s), according to a water situation report issued at 6am on September 30, 2026. Regional Irrigation Office 13 warned that peak flows during the current surge could reach about 2,500m³/s, increasing the threat to riverside and low-lying communities. Emergency crews were also working to remove a raft that had broken loose and struck one of the dam’s sluice gates overnight.
Rescuers secure raft after collision with dam gate
A rescue report posted on the Facebook account “Pongsiri Prakob” around midnight described a raft drifting into a sluice gate at Mae Klong Dam in Muang Chum subdistrict, Tha Muang district.
Kanchanaburi Governor Warittha Sanguansermsri led a joint response involving the provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, the Marine Department, Khun Rattanawut Rescue Centre and the forward water management command centre at Mae Klong Dam.
Emergency crews secured the raft and began moving it away from the gate.
“Officials have secured the raft and are working to move it safely away from the sluice gate. The dam remains structurally sound and can release water normally as planned.”
Discharge exceeds the critical flood threshold
Regional Irrigation Office 13 and the dam’s forward water management command centre reported downstream discharge of 2,142m³/s in their 6am update.
The water level upstream of the dam stood at 22.83 metres above mean sea level, while the downstream level was 18.48 metres above mean sea level.
Water diverted into the left- and right-bank irrigation systems totalled 99.122m³/s. The left-bank system received 91.504m³/s, slightly less than the previous day, while the right-bank system received 7.618m³/s.
The report cited the Royal Irrigation Department’s monitoring thresholds as follows:
Alert level Downstream discharge
Normal No more than 800m³/s
Watch 800–1,500m³/s
Critical More than 1,500m³/s
The recorded discharge of 2,142m³/s exceeded the critical threshold, heightening flood risks for communities downstream.
Officials aim to manage releases at 2,300–2,400m³/s
Regional Irrigation Office 13 estimated that the largest flow in the current surge could reach approximately 2,500m³/s. The dam’s command centre would try to manage downstream releases within a range of 2,300–2,400m³/s to minimise the impact on communities.
Residents along rivers, in low-lying areas and on riverbanks outside flood embankments were urged to move belongings, electrical appliances and pets to higher ground immediately.
Irrigation authorities also urged residents to remain vigilant and closely follow official announcements, as water levels were expected to continue rising.
Contact information and emergency assistance
Residents affected by flooding or requiring further information on water conditions can contact the Mae Klong Irrigation Operation and Maintenance Project directly or coordinate with the following project officials:
- Thanakorn Tantikul, director of the Mae Klong Irrigation Operation and Maintenance Project
- Waraporn Srichan, head of Operation and Maintenance Section 1 at the Mae Klong project, also performing the duties of head of the project’s Water Allocation and Irrigation System Improvement Section
- Emergency contact number: 082-0876165
