The Songkhram River has overflowed its banks and flooded two districts in Bueng Kan Province. In some places, the water level is higher than 1 meter.

The situation in the Northeast is still flooded in many provinces, but there are starting to be positive signs. The Mekong River level is decreasing, allowing better drainage from tributaries. In Bueng Kan Province, the Songkhram River, a tributary of the Mekong River, this morning the water level rose again, continuously flooding the area, especially in Ban Noi Santisuk, Don Ya Nang Subdistrict, Phon Charoen District. In some areas, the water level was higher than 1 meter. Villagers have had to use boats to travel in and out of the village for more than 3 weeks. Recently, the rising water level has spread to another 2 villages. In some places, the water level is higher than 50 centimeters. Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department officers had to use high-rise trucks to pick up villagers and children to send them to school and work. Some villagers rowed their boats out by themselves. More than 200 households were affected. In addition to Phon Charoen District, the Songkhram River has also flooded house s and agricultural areas in Tha Sa-at Subdistrict, Seka District, affecting more than 50 families. Relevant agencies have gone to the area to provide initial assistance. The Loei River has overflowed its banks, causing widespread flooding in Loei Province. At the level measurement point in front of the Loei Municipality Office this morning, the Loei River is at 9.85 meters, with 1.20 meters left to reach the critical level of 11 meters, where water will flow into the economic district. The water has now flooded the surrounding area and has spread to the other side of Charoen Rat Road, the Loei Post Office, and about 20 houses, which are areas that have repeatedly flooded. The province has brought in water pumps to quickly pump water out of the Loei Post Office, operating them 24 hours a day, as well as bringing sandbags to block off the area along the bank of the Loei Vocational College, where the water level is beginning to reach the brim. Meanwhile, the Loei Provincial Central Stadium has been flooded, w ith the water level at 1.5-2 meters, including the playground and the football field, which have all been flooded. Yellow flags raised to warn of flooding in 3 communities in the Mun River, Ubon Ratchathani Province. The Royal Irrigation Department raised yellow flags to warn of flooding in the Mun River. Today at the M7 water measurement station, Seri Prachathipatai Bridge, Mueang District, the water level was 6.11 meters, only 89 centimeters below the bank. This is a mass of water flowing from the north of the province after heavy rains from Tropical Storm Soulik. Meanwhile, officials installed 3 water pumps at Wat Senawong to pump water to prevent flooding in communities in Warin Chamrap Municipality. The flooding in Ubon Ratchathani will not be as severe as the flash floods in the North, but will gradually increase and remain for a long time. The main factor is the Mekong River level. If the Mekong River level is high, the water from the Mun River will flow down slowly, which will cause flooding in Mue ang and Warin Chamrap districts for a longer time. The latest update this morning is that the Mekong River level in Khong Chiam district is 13.38 meters, still 1.12 meters below the bank. Currently, there are 3 communities that have been flooded by the Mun River: Wang Daeng Community, Burapha Community, and Yaowarat Community. 12 families have had to flee the flood and take shelter in evacuation centers. 6 districts were declared disaster areas, more than 100,000 rai of rice fields were damaged. Nakhon Phanom Province recently announced 6 districts as flood disaster areas: Sri Songkhram, Nathom, Tha Uthen, Na Wa, Ban Phaeng, and Mueang Nakhon Phanom. Overall, 36 sub-districts and 224 villages were affected, with 17,368 farmers affected. Most of the agricultural areas are rice fields, with an estimated total damage of 119,013 rai. Sri Songkhram District is expected to be the hardest hit, with 70,486 rai of agricultural fields damaged. Relevant agencies are urgently surveying to provide assistance and compen sation in accordance with government regulations. The Mekong River continues to drop to 11 meters, which is considered past the critical point of overflowing the banks, causing tributaries to drain faster. However, there are still areas that are severely affected, namely areas along the Un River and Songkhram River in Sri Songkhram District, because there is still a mass of water from the lowlands flowing in. It is expected that in another 1-2 weeks, if there is no rain, the situation will begin to return to normal. Source: Thai News Agency