Hanoi: Many provinces are preparing for the powerful tropical storm 'Wipha' which will make landfall in Vietnam today, affecting Thailand with heavy rain until July 24.
According to Thai News Agency, in Nan Province this morning, houses and shops have prepared sandbags for protection in case of flash floods, including many important temples. Monks at Wat Phraya Phu, a royal temple, have brought sandbags to block off various areas around the temple to prevent flooding and damage to important historical sites. The storm will move into Nan Province, which will bring heavy to very heavy rain in the area. The amount of rain could reach 200 millimeters, which could cause the Nan River and its tributaries to overflow, causing flash floods, forest runoff, or landslides in Nan Province, especially in high-risk districts such as Tha Wang Pha, Pua, Chaloem Phra Kiat, Bo Kluea, Wiang Sa, Mae Charim, Santisuk Song Kwae, Chiang Klang, Thung Chang, and Phu Phiang Districts.
Continuous rain has been recorded in Mae Sai District, Chiang Rai Province, where heavy thunderstorms and strong winds, alternating with light and strong winds in some areas, have been occurring since early last night, causing concern among local residents. This morning, in the economic zone of Mae Sai District, shops and houses along Phahonyothin Road in front of the Mae Sai-Tachilek Friendship Border Checkpoint 1 have placed sandbags in front of their shops to prevent water from overflowing into houses and shops, after last year's flooding. At the border checkpoint, people traveled to check the water level in the Sai River at the first Friendship Bridge and found that the water level was still lower than the watch point, but it is still a concern for those living along the Sai River and nearby areas.
In Nakhon Phanom Province this morning, there were strong winds and heavy to very heavy rain in some areas. The heaviest rainfall was in Mueang Nakhon Phanom District, where 66.9 millimeters of rain fell. The Mekong River level was 8.89 meters, 7 centimeters higher than yesterday, and the trend is still rising. Nakhon Phanom Municipality brought in large water pumps and issued a warning to residents along the river and in low-lying areas to be careful of flash floods.