Mekong River gains close to 2 meters overnight

 

 

NONG KHAI, 24th July 2018 (NNT) – The Royal Irrigation Department (RID) is continuing with preparations against flooding due to a tropical depression bringing heavy rainfall across most of the country with the Mekong River level in Nong Khai rising rapidly and impeding boat travel. 

The Mekong River flowing bordering Nong Khai province rose a remarkable 169 centimeters in one day yesterday (July 23) after heavy rains north of the province in Lao PDR. The waterway is now 8.3 meters high and only 3.9 meters from overflowing its banks. It is expected to rise by another 2 meters today (July 24) with water flowing in from Chiang Kan of Loei province. Local workers have had to adjust barges and rafts as the rising waters have left them in disarray. 

In Khon Kaen province, RID Office 6 Director Saksiri Yusuk has held a meeting with other relevant agencies to prepare to handle the effects of rain in the provinces of Khon Kaen, Mahasarakam, Kalasin, Chaiyaphum and Roi Et. Authorities are to install more water pumps and inspect the integrity of embankments after an earthen bank disintegrated in Roi Et and over 18,000 Rai of farmland was flooded. 

Up to 6 million cubic meters of water is flowing into Pranburi Dam in Prachuapkirikan province from the Tanaosri mountain range due to continual rain. The dam is now holding 328 million cubic meters of water, which is about 80 percent of its total capacity. Releases from the dam have been increased to 2.16 million cubic meters daily to maintain its level in anticipation of more rain. 

All RID projects along the nation’s west have been told to explain the need for releases at this time to the public to avoid panic, while also preparing emergency response equipment. 

Flooding in Sangklaburi district of Kanchanaburi has improved and is expected to subside in seven days. Assistance is being provided to affected residents but the authorities are concerned about villagers in Baan Koh Saderng, which has had various roads severed. Royal Thai Army units have moved into the area with medical and other supplies but have noted the 12 kilometer entrance to the community now takes four to five hours to traverse.

 

-- © Copyright The Nation 2018-07-24

That is a huge increase in a short time ! Nearly 1.7 meters in one day ? With possibly another 2 meters in the next day (or two) ? That'd be a 3.7 meter rise in 48(ish) hours !

That's like a 12 foot wall of water, on top of how much was already there. By the numbers in the article, the water level was around 6.6 meters, is up to 8.3 and could be 10.3 in the next 24 hours.
That works out to what, a 64% increase in just 2 days ?

 

Wow. Glad I don't live in that area !

Big problems further south too in Laos on Eastern side

Just read on another site that a dam being built in Laos has collapsed killing hundreds with over 6,000 missing in the ensuing flood, have to wonder if some of this water is from that incident

4 minutes ago, seajae said:

Just read on another site that a dam being built in Laos has collapsed killing hundreds with over 6,000 missing in the ensuing flood, have to wonder if some of this water is from that incident

I think that incident was further south.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-44935495