The people of Ubon Ratchathani are facing ongoing difficulties with the rising water levels in northeastern Thailand, largely due to the Ubonrat and Lampao dams. These increasing floodwaters have caused stagnant water to spoil, leading to requests for medicine to treat water-related illnesses and fever, worsening the impact of flooding in Ubon Ratchathani.
Banjong Wongvien, a resident of Tha Bong Mung in Warin Chamrap Municipality, Ubon Ratchathani, is still looking after her home. Even though the water levels have started to go down, she remains cautious about the possibility of another surge of water from the Ubonrat and Lampao dams that continue to release water into the province. She’s concerned that the situation could deteriorate in the next one to two days. To be safe, she has sent her grandchildren to a temporary shelter near a wastewater treatment pond while she stays behind to protect the property and monitor the water levels.
A significant issue at the moment is having to wade through water at least twice a day to buy food. The floodwater has been stagnant for a month, causing it to spoil, turn black, and emit a foul odor. This has led to an increase in water-borne diseases, resulting in requests for medication to treat these illnesses and fevers. Those who haven’t evacuated to temporary shelters set up by the authorities are not receiving the same level of care.
According to the M7 water level station in Ubon Ratchathani, the water level is currently at 7.84 meters, exceeding the spillway by 84 centimeters. Residents are advised to remain vigilant for incoming water from the north, as reported by KhaoSod.
The ongoing flood crisis in Thailand is a significant concern, especially in the provinces of Kalasin and Ubon Ratchathani, where water levels are steadily rising. In response, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has taken prompt action by deploying resources and personnel from various agencies to accelerate flood relief operations.
