Officials prepare to cope with new storm on Oct 15-17

BANGKOK, Oct 9 (TNA) -- The agriculture minister has ordered officials to solve water problems nationwide and be prepared for a new storm expected during Oct 15-17. Somkiat Prajamwong, director-general of the Royal Irrigation Department, said Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Chatchai Sarikulya ordered more flood drainage channels in the upper part of the Chao Phraya river basin where it was raining heavily. He also ordered other flood response plans for the region. Meanwhile, floodwater was receding from Sukhothai Hospital and Sukhothai province and the Irrigation Department was accelerating drainage there, Mr Somkiat said. He also said that the Chao Phraya River in Nakhon Sawan provincial seat was flowing at the rate of 2,400 cubic meters per second and thus the level of water was rising at the Chao Phraya dam. The Bhumibol Dam in Tak province was at 60% of its capacity and the Sirikit Dam in Uttaradit was 80% full. The Meteorological Department predicted rain would continue in the Central Plain on Oct 12-14 and a new storm would arrive in the country on Oct 15-17. Mr Somkiat said that the Royal Irrigation Department would increase the discharge rate at the Ubonrat Dam to 26-34 million cubic meters a day to control the amount of water in its reservoir. The increasing discharge may cause flooding in parts of Khon Kaen, Yasothon, Roi Et and Ubon Ratchathani provinces. (TNA)