Riverside residents in Mueang district of Chanthaburi province have been advised by officials to move their cars, motorcycles and other transportable valuables to higher ground, as the water in the Chanthaburi River is approaching a critical level, due to heavy rain over the past several days.
The depth of the water at the bridge near Chanthanaram Temple was 3.32m at 11.40pm on Sunday night. Irrigation officials say that, if the depth exceeds 4m, overflows will flood riverside areas and communities.
Officials are now checking the depth of the river on an hourly basis, to keep the public informed and to prepare to drain floodwater back into the river.
Four districts have already been flooded, affecting many fruit orchards and residences. One 11-year-old girl is reported to have drowned in Makham district.
In Mae Sot district of Tak province, the Moei River, which demarcates the border between Thailand and Myanmar, has overflowed both banks, inundating the riverside market and the Thai immigration office, causing suspension of immigration work.
Myawaddy township, opposite Mae Sot, is reported to be heavily flooded, prompting the evacuation of many people there to higher ground.
The number of tourists visiting Mae Sot has dropped sharply and border trade has slowed almost to a standstill, as traders from Myanmar have stopped arriving in Mae Sot due to the heavy flooding.
