Heavy rainfall hits Thailand’s North, Northeast

BANGKOK, July 28 (TNA) - The water level of several canals and rivers in the North and Northeastern Thailand has risen sharply following heavy downpours in past few days while the Meteorological Department has forecast that both regions would be battered by heavy rainfall until this Wednesday (Jul 31). Officials of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department in the northern Lamphun province has issued a warning to villagers, especially those living near rivers which pass through the province, to stay full alert of water runoff and mudslide incidents after the water level of the rivers rose sharply following heavy rains in the past few days. In the northeastern Nakhon Phanom province bordering Laos, the water level of Mekong River increased over 50 centimetres in overnight after heavy downpours battered the province in the past few days. Fortunately, it has not reached the critical level yet. However, provincial officials have sped up the installing of water pumps in areas which could easily become flooded. The water level at Nong Han Lake in the northeastern Sakhon Nakhon province has risen more than 85 per cent of total capacity, prompting officials to open all of three water gates to release water into the Mekong River and to prevent the provincial seat from inundation. Villagers living in flood-prone areas are asked to be fully prepared for flooding. (TNA)