Flood risk for Bangkok region declines

Several temples in an ancient city of Ayutthaya are under water and residents are still struggling after flooding from overflown rivers inundated low-lying parts of the town. In many areas, water supply has been affected forcing those trapped at home to use flood water instead.

Eight people have died, and one person is missing since last weekend from flooding triggered by Tropical Storm Dianmu, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigations said. It announced Monday that 271,092 households in 32 provinces, mostly in the north, northeast and central regions had been affected. The situation has eased in 14 provinces. Officials in Thailand said the threat of flooding in the Bangkok region has lessened after upstream reservoirs and dams are able to release rainwater from several storms into rivers without inundating the capital city.

The Director General of the Royal Irrigation Department said that with no major rainfalls in the past few days, the department is able to decrease the amount of water discharged from Chao Phraya Dam, in Chai Nat province, Rama VI Dam, in Ayutthaya province and Pasak Chonlasit Dam, in Lopburi province which will help ease the flooding in cities and farms downstream.