RID warns five provinces as Mae Klong River could rise 2.5m
Residents below Mae Klong Dam are urged to move belongings to higher ground as river flows rise and larger water releases may be needed.
- The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) has warned five provinces of potential flooding: Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Songkhram, and Samut Sakhon.
- The warning is due to rising upstream flows from the Khwae Noi and Khwae Yai rivers, which may force the Mae Klong Dam to increase its water discharge.
- This increased dam release could raise the Mae Klong River's water level by approximately 2.50 metres downstream.
- Residents in low-lying areas along the river have been urged to move their belongings to higher ground and monitor official announcements.
The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) has warned residents in five Thai provinces downstream of Mae Klong Dam to prepare for possible flooding, as rising upstream flows may require larger dam releases and push river levels up by about 2.50 metres.
The RID warning covers Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, Nakhon Pathom, Samut Songkhram and Samut Sakhon. Residents living along rivers, in low-lying areas and near waterways were urged to watch for rising water levels.
Mae Klong Dam releases may exceed 1,500 cubic metres per second
The RID may need to increase discharge through Mae Klong Dam to more than 1,500 cubic metres per second as flows in the Khwae Noi and Khwae Yai rivers continue to rise. Regional Irrigation Office 13 reported that large volumes of water from both rivers were converging and flowing rapidly into the Mae Klong River.
At telemetry station K.58 in Ban Pak Saeng, Sai Yok district, Kanchanaburi, the Khwae Noi River recorded a flow of 1,441 cubic metres per second at 6pm on September 27, 2026, according to Regional Irrigation Office 13. The flow was showing signs of increasing further, while the Khwae Yai River was also carrying high and rising volumes of water.
The RID warned that increased releases could raise the Mae Klong River’s level downstream of the dam by approximately 2.50 metres above the level at the time of the warning.
Downstream residents urged to move belongings to higher ground
The RID advised residents in at-risk areas to move belongings and other property to higher ground, prepare for possible flooding and closely follow announcements from government agencies.
The RID has coordinated with provincial administrations, government agencies, local authorities and other relevant bodies to alert people in risk areas. The department is continuing to monitor water conditions and manage flows to prepare for possible flooding and reduce the impact on communities downstream of Mae Klong Dam.
