Rising Water Levels in Lom Sak District Prompt Flooding Concerns

Bangkok: Lom Sak province is experiencing rising water levels, with the Pa Sak River expected to peak at 1 AM tonight.According to Thai News Agency, the Royal Irrigation Department has reported that while water levels in the upper reaches of the Pa Sak River are beginning to recede, the Lom Sak district is facing minor flooding, with water flowing towards Phetchabun city. Despite the rising levels, officials anticipate that the flood barriers will hold if there is no additional rainfall.Dr. Thanes Somboon, Director of the Water Management and Hydrology Division of the Royal Irrigation Department, confirmed that monitoring at 6:00 PM today indicated receding water levels in upstream areas. Specifically, at station S.33 in Lom Kao District, the water level was recorded at 4.86 meters, and at station S.53 in Lom Sak District, it was 5.04 meters, both showing a downward trend.In Lom Sak district, however, water levels continue to rise as water from upstream flows into the area. At station S.3, the water le vel was 8.55 meters at 6:00 PM, exceeding the riverbank by 0.25 meters, and is expected to rise further. Flooding has been reported in several areas along the Pa Sak River. In the Tha I Bun subdistrict, roads within Moo 10 village are submerged, and some houses in Huai Rai and Sak Long subdistricts are partially flooded. The department estimates that without further rainfall, the peak water level will reach approximately 8.70 meters at 1:00 AM on August 22nd before receding below the riverbank by 1:00 PM the same day.To combat the situation, Lom Sak District has mobilized local administrative organizations, the 28th Infantry Battalion, members of the Volunteer Defense Corps, and other officials to assist residents in laying sandbag barriers. Additionally, personnel and disaster relief machinery have been prepared to assist residents continuously. Residents along the Pa Sak River and its tributaries have been advised to closely monitor water levels.Water from Lom Sak will continue to impact Mueang Phetchab un district. At station S.4B, the water level was 6.86 meters at 6:00 PM, 2.34 meters below the bank, and is expected to rise. However, it is not anticipated to surpass the flood barriers in the city area, and the municipality has made preparations for this scenario.Regarding the Pasak Chonlasit Dam in Lopburi Province, the reservoir currently holds 285.54 million cubic meters of water, representing 32.76% of its total capacity of 871.50 million cubic meters, leaving approximately 586 million cubic meters of storage capacity available.