Water from the Nam Songkhram River, a vital tributary of the mighty Mekong, overstepped its boundaries and inundated about 5,000 rai of paddy fields in Sri Songkhram district of Nakhon Phanom province on Wednesday. (Photo: Pattanapong Sripiachai)
Speculation had been circulating that the Jinghong Dam in Yunnan, China, might’ve played a significant role in causing the overflow that wreaked havoc in Thailand’s northern and northeastern regions. However, China swiftly debunked these theories. In a statement from its Bangkok embassy, China firmly asserted that their dam had not been up to anything fishy, emphasizing that no water had been released recently from the reservoir.
The embassy took a proactive approach by consulting with various state agencies, which confirmed that Chinese rivers were behaving as expected for this time of the year. From August 18 to 25, reservoirs attached to the Lancang River—the name for the Mekong in China—were actually holding back their water, rather than letting it gush downstream.
In fact, they reported that the average daily outflow at the Jinghong Dam had dipped by 60% compared to August of the previous year. So in essence, the dam had been playing it cool and not releasing a drop of excess water.
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra was busy making waves with his comments on a recent visit to flood-stricken Chiang Rai. He suggested that China’s metaphorical faucets had been left open, potentially contributing to the unusual rise in Mekong water levels, since China was also dealing with its own flood crisis.
He mentioned ongoing negotiations between Thailand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese government to find a more flood-friendly water release strategy. However, it’s unclear if the embassy’s statement was a direct clap back at Thaksin’s remarks.
The embassy’s message expressed genuine concern, emphasizing the interconnectedness of the countries within the Mekong River Basin. “The six countries in the Lancang (Mekong) River Basin are a community of a shared future connected by mountains and rivers,” it declared on its Facebook page.
It further assured that China is ready to enhance cooperation and share information about water resources, stressing a united front to tackle climate change and flood challenges. Clearly, China aimed to smooth any ruffled feathers and promote collective water management strategies.
On a more local note, as of Wednesday, the water level in the Mekong at Nakhon Phanom had climbed to approximately 10.4 meters, just 1.6 meters short of the overflow point, with a deluge of water rolling in from the North.
Provincial officials responded swiftly, giving a heads-up to local authorities in Muang, Ban Phaeng, Tha Uthen, and That Phanom districts. They were advised to set up large water pumps and prepare for any potential overflow. Local residents were also urged to keep a vigilant eye on weather reports as the situation developed.
For further context, ongoing floods have exacted a toll on the tourism sector, with losses inching close to a staggering B500 million. Clearly, the floodwaters have washed away not just crops but also a significant slice of the region’s economic well-being.
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