BANGKOK – A significant flood surge moving down the Chao Phraya River is expected to affect Bangkok and multiple riverside provinces throughout the coming week, authorities confirmed on Tuesday. The government has initiated efforts to divert water into adjacent farmland in an attempt to mitigate the impact on urban areas.

Central Thailand Floods Projected to Recede by Late November, Officials Say

Agriculture Minister Thamanat Prompow, who oversees the Royal Irrigation Department, stated that the river’s flow would remain high at approximately 2,900 cubic meters per second for about another week before beginning a gradual decline. He projected a return to the normal flow rate of 1,000 cubic meters per second by the third week of December. The minister assured the public that the situation would not reach the severity of the 2011 great flood, noting the river’s maximum capacity is 3,500 cubic meters per second, far above the current rate.

The flood surge downstream on the Chao Phraya River will continue into next week and affect Bangkok and riverside provinces, while the government tries to divert the flow to farmland on both sides of the river.

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The Geo-Informatics and Space Technology Development Agency warned that the sustained high flow would raise water levels in the lower Chao Phraya by 20-30 centimeters, potentially allowing floodwater to penetrate further into parts of Bangkok, particularly on the western bank.

Bangkok and Neighboring Provinces on High Flood Alert as Chao Phraya Discharge Rises

In response, the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration has deployed sandbags to protect 11 vulnerable communities located outside the main embankments, encompassing 1,070 residents across six districts. Officials continue to emphasize controlled water diversion to farmland as the primary strategy to cap the flow rate before it reaches the capital.

-Thailand News (TN)