Nan: The Royal Irrigation Department is closely monitoring the rising water levels in the Nan River following continuous rainfall. The department has issued a warning that floodwaters from the Pua River are expected to inundate Nan city within 10 to 12 hours, although the Sirikit Dam still has capacity to hold more water.
According to Thai News Agency, the Smart Water Operation Center (SWOC) of the Royal Irrigation Department has raised alarms in Nan Province after 24 hours of heavy rainfall. The Phu Kha Subdistrict in Pua District experienced the highest rainfall, recording 277.6 millimeters. This has led to a swift increase in water levels in the upper Nan River and its tributaries. Monitoring stations in Pua District and Mueang Nan District have reported continuously rising water levels. The massive volume of water from Pua District is predicted to take approximately 10 to 12 hours to reach Mueang Nan District.
Mr. Witthaya Kaewmee, Director-General of the Royal Irrigation Department, has instructed the Nan Irrigation Project to maintain round-the-clock monitoring, and to install 12 large water pumps in Mueang Nan and Wiang Sa districts. Machinery and backhoes have been dispatched to remove any obstructions in the waterways to mitigate flooding risks.
In downstream areas, Sirikit Dam is currently at 65.56% capacity, with over 3,200 million cubic meters of storage available. This indicates that the dam can effectively manage the incoming water from Nan Province. Residents in low-lying areas along the Nan River have been urged to prepare and stay updated with official announcements and warnings.
The Nan Provincial Administration has established a hotline for reporting incidents and requesting assistance from the Incident Command Center at the Pua District Office, Nan Province. Residents can contact the center at 054-791-007, 054-791-008, or 054-791-009 for support.
Evacuation centers have been set up across Pua District, Nan Province, to facilitate relief efforts. Key centers include the Pua District Auditorium, Silaphet Community School Auditorium, Pua Subdistrict Municipality Meeting Hall, Wat Pa Mueang, and other designated areas across various subdistricts.