Bangkok: In response to the severe flooding in the southern region, Narumon Pinyosinwat, the Minister of Agriculture and Cooperatives, has directed the Royal Irrigation Department to expedite the drainage of excess water. The Minister has emphasized the importance of 24-hour monitoring and public assistance to mitigate the impact of the floodwaters. According to Thai News Agency, Mrs. Narumon has mandated the pre-installation of machinery and tools to anticipate disasters. Machinery from non-flooded regions such as the North, Northeast, and Central areas is being relocated to the South to address the flood crisis. Officials are being deployed to flood-prone areas to ensure rapid response and continuous operations around the clock. The approach includes monitoring rainwater levels, river flow, and flooding to manage water discharge efficiently, particularly by utilizing irrigation infrastructure to drain water during low tide and employing pumps to manage water levels during high tide. The flood situation is particularly critical in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province, where heavy rains have led to significant water flow into local canals, causing overflow and flooding in key districts. Efforts are focused on channeling this water into the Gulf of Thailand using drainage canals and floodgates, especially during low tide, while high tide conditions prompt the use of pre-installed water pumps to expedite water removal. In Songkhla Province, low-lying areas are also experiencing floods. The Royal Irrigation Department is actively pumping water to facilitate drainage into Songkhla Lake and the Gulf of Thailand. Hat Yai City is currently unaffected due to effective water management practices, which include strategic drainage through established canals. In Pattani Province, where the Pattani River poses a flood risk, the Bang Lang Dam is being utilized to regulate water flow, complemented by additional water pumps and pushers to prevent flooding in downstream areas. Yala Province is dealing with flooding from the Sai Buri River in Yala and Raman districts. Here, the use of water pumps and pushers is essential in driving floodwaters into the Gulf of Thailand efficiently. In Narathiwat Province, which is impacted by the Golok River originating from Malaysia, collaborative flood management efforts with Malaysia are in place. Flooding in multiple districts is being managed through the use of water pumps and pushers to redirect water into the Gulf of Thailand, ensuring that the impact on local communities is minimized.
