Naphinthara visited Mae Klong Dam before a meeting to discuss water management strategies for three provinces, preparing plans for heavy rainfall. He confirmed that each provincial governor is ready to manage the Phetchaburi River basin situation following dam overflow.
At 12:40 PM on 5 Oct 2026 GMT+7. Naphinthara Srisunpang, Minister attached to the Prime Minister's Office, said at the Government House before heading to Mae Klong Dam in Tha Muang District, Kanchanaburi Province, in the afternoon that Mae Klong Dam is a diversion dam, not a storage dam. It covers the areas of Kanchanaburi, Ratchaburi, and Samut Songkhram provinces through which the Mae Klong River flows. The visit aims to assess the rainfall expected from 4-14 October, the amount of rain, and water discharge plans. He emphasized the need to prepare for deviations from the Meteorological Department's forecast, since if the rain is prolonged rather than passing, they need a plan to minimize impact on the people and reduce damage as much as possible. A plan to address this will be discussed in today's meeting.
. When asked if the Mae Klong River area can now be less worrisome, Naphinthara replied that daily caution is still necessary. Data shows heavy rain is expected on 8 October 2026, approximately 111 millimeters both inside and outside the dam. The discussion will focus on how to manage water release so the increased rainfall does not adversely affect the Mae Klong River basin, and how Vajiralongkorn Dam can retain water without releasing excess that affects the population. This is the main topic for today's meeting.
Regarding prior government warnings about the concerning situation in the Phetchaburi River basin, Naphinthara said that currently Kaeng Krachan Dam is releasing about 130 cubic meters per second due to overflow, but the Phetchaburi River can handle this volume. They will continue to meet to decide on measures if rainfall increases—whether to reduce water release or assess provincial preparedness. He emphasized that the provinces have full plans in place to handle the situation.