ONWR issues warning of high Mekong River levels

The Office of National Water Resources has issued an announcement warning that the water level in the Mekong River is likely to rise, and is expected to overflow the banks in Chiang Khan District, Loei Province by 0.50-1.50 meters from 13-16 September.The Office of National Water Resources (ONWR) has monitored the Mekong River situation and found that there has been an accumulation of heavy rainfall in the northern, northeastern, and Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) regions, causing the water level of the Mekong River to continuously rise. In addition, the influence of the monsoon trough will move down across the northern, upper central, and northeastern regions into a low-pressure cell in central Vietnam, causing Thailand to experience more rainfall and heavy to very heavy rainfall during 14-18 September 2024, resulting in the water level in the Mekong River area tending to continuously rise. ONWR has predicted the situation trend during 12-16 September 2024 as follows:Chiang Rai Province, Chi ang Saen Station area, Chiang Saen District, water level tends to increase by approximately 0.50 - 0.70 meters, still 3.40 meters below the bank.Loei Province, Chiang Khan Station area, Chiang Khan District, water level tends to increase by approximately 3.00 - 3.60 meters and it is expected that the water level will tend to be higher than the bank by 0.50 - 1.50 meters during 13 - 16 September 2024.Nong Khai Province, Nong Khai Station area, Mueang Nong Khai District and Bueng Kan Province, Mueang Bueng Kan District, the water level tends to increase by approximately 3.50 - 3.90 meters and it is expected that the water level will tend to be higher than the bank by 1.50 - 2.50 meters during 13 - 16 September 2024.Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen and Ubon Ratchathani provinces, water levels tend to increase by approximately 2.00 - 2.60 meters, still 0.50 - 1.30 meters below the bank.In this regard, relevant agencies in the provinces along the Mekong River are requested to prepare for the situatio n of overflowing riverbanks and flooding in low-lying areas along the Mekong River and some tributaries of Thailand that cannot easily drain water into the Mekong River. Please publicize the water situation in the Mekong River and warn people traveling and doing activities in the Mekong River area, including those living in the aforementioned areas, to closely monitor the water situation and prepare to monitor the impacts that may arise from changes in the water level in the Mekong River.Source: Thai News Agency