Authorities brace for heavy rain in eastern provinces

BANGKOK, June 5 (TNA) – The Royal Irrigation Department has deployed pumps to the eastern provinces of Chanthaburi and Trat to brace for heavy rain this week. After a weekly meeting to follow up water situation, the department's director-general, Sanchai Ketworrachai said that the meteorological department’s report forecast heavy rain in Rayong, Chantaburi and Trat from June 6-9. Flooding is likely to hit Chantaburi and Trat, so the irrigation department have mobilized pumps to be on standby in these provinces and worked local officials to prevent flood in Chanthaburi’s business area. Rainfall is also expected in the western part of the country including Mae Hong Son, Tak, Kanchanaburi and Ranong as a ridge of high pressure from China is moving towards Thailand. However, it will help increase water in the major Bhumibol dam in Tak. Meanwhile, an ongoing flooding in the central province of Suphanburi is expected to return to normal in the next two days if there is no more rain. According to a survey, about 46,000 acres of farmland in the Chao Phraya River basin have been flooded. (TNA)