Over 480 hectares of farmland in four sub-districts of Borabue district in the northeastern province of Maha Sarakham have been heavily flooded since yesterday, after the earthen embankment of a reservoir partially collapsed, sending about three million cubic metres of water gushing downstream.
Cholasak Sukkhee, chief of Maha Sarakham irrigation office, blamed the collapse on heavy rain on Monday, measured at 145mm.
He said that the volume of water in the reservoir increased to 5.7 million cubic metres, about 700,000 cubic metres more than its retention capacity.
The weight of the water in the reservoir cracked the earthen wall, which partially collapsed, he said, adding that he will allow water to continue to drain out of the reservoir down to a certain level, which will take about a week, before repair work can begin on closing the huge gap in the wall.
He offered an assurance that the flood water is contained on farm land in Non Rasi, Kamphi, Nong Sim and Nong Wua sub-districts, adding that residents there had been warned in advance to move their valuables to higher ground, as the level in the reservoir was rising quickly.
Some of the flooded farm land is under two metres of water.
