Bueng Kan speeds draining flood water before new storm comes

BUENG KAN, July 24 (TNA) – Director of the irrigation project in the northeastern province of Bueng Kan ordered all four sluice gates to be opened to speed draining flood water into the Mekong River as the new storm is approaching. The sluice gates remain opened around the clock to release about 3.5 million cubic metres per day into the Mekong River to prevent further damage to villagers’ crops including rice paddies. About 400 acres of farmland in two districts have been under water in the past two days. Meanwhile, the meteorological department forecast heavy rain the North and the Northeast as the tropical storm “Sonca” over the upper South China Sea will make landfall over Vietnam on Tuesday (July 25) and downgrade to tropical depression and low pressure cell, respectively. It is likely to pass through Laos, the upper Northeast and the North of Thailand to trigger abundant rain with isolated heavy to very heavy rain. (TNA)