SING BURI, THAILAND – A flood defense wall collapsed on Tuesday, sending torrents of water into three villages in Sing Buri province and forcing emergency evacuations as 13 provinces entered top-level flood alerts.
Levee collapse in Sing Buri triggers flooding
At 16:40 on Tuesday, a temporary flood wall between Moo 5 and Moo 4 villages in Sing Buri province collapsed, releasing a surge of water that inundated surrounding communities. Officials reported that the breach directly threatened the district office, the local police station, and Wat Samrong temple, prompting urgent evacuations ordered by local authorities.
“The temporary dike could not withstand the water pressure,”
said Local Disaster Protection Officials.
Emergency teams began immediate rescue operations, moving residents to higher ground while attempting to reinforce the damaged area. However, heavy currents made containment impossible during evening hours.
Dams nearly full across the Chao Phraya Basin
The Royal Irrigation Department confirmed that the four main reservoirs in the Chao Phraya River Basin reached critical storage levels as of Tuesday afternoon:
– Bhumibol Dam: 99% capacity
– Sirikit Dam: 98% capacity
– Kwae Noi Bamrung Dan: 101% capacity
Despite high volumes, engineers maintained the Chao Phraya Dam’s discharge at 2,900 cubic meters per second, with no plans to increase flow.
“The Bhumibol Dam is 99% full,”
said Royal Irrigation Department officials.
Thirteen provinces under flood warnings
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) listed 13 provinces facing widespread flooding across northern and central Thailand.
Affected northern regions include Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, Nakhon Sawan, and Uthai Thani, while Suphan Buri, Chai Nat, Sing Buri, Ang Thong, Ayutthaya, Nakhon Pathom, Pathum Thani, and Nonthaburi reported extensive inundation in central areas.
“The flood wave is moving downstream,”
said DDPM hydrological experts.
Authorities issue safety instructions
The DDPM urged residents in low-lying communities to implement immediate protection measures:
– Move valuables and electronics to upper floors.
– Keep vehicles out of flooded zones.
– Monitor official warnings and network alerts continuously.
“Move vehicles immediately to safe areas,”
said Disaster Awareness Officers.
Repair efforts continue under pressure
By Tuesday evening, repair crews worked continuously at the breached levee using sandbags and concrete barriers, though progress remained slow due to strong currents.
“We are working under high pressure,”
said Rescue Team Leaders on site.
Officials said that every minute was crucial to prevent further structural erosion. The incident in Sing Buri province intensified Thailand’s ongoing struggle with seasonal flooding that has affected river communities along the Chao Phraya River for weeks.
Rising water, rising alarm
Local authorities confirmed that water levels in downstream provinces continued to increase overnight, and residents in Ayutthaya and Ang Thong were preparing temporary shelters in schools and temples. For villagers in Moo 4 and Moo 5, the collapse on October 8 marked an abrupt start to a new disaster response phase.
Officials reiterated that national coordination centers in Bangkok would maintain alerts until the flood wave passed through the central plain toward the Gulf of Thailand.
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Source: Bangkok Post