Heavy seasonal rains continue to pound Thailand

Heavy seasonal rains continue to pound much of Thailand, causing widespread flooding, particularly in the northeast and central regions. In the province of Ubon Ratchathani, almost 20,000 people have been moved into 85 temporary shelters with floodwaters overwhelming more than a thousand villages, according to an update from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation.

The update said almost 130,000 households are currently affected, in 25 provinces, nationwide. Flooding is a regular seasonal problem in Thailand but this year it has been exacerbated by the remnants of Tropical Storm Noru, which swept through in the last week of September.

Authorities recently warned that Bangkok and other provinces along the Chao Phraya River could face severe threats as the volume of water flowing from upstream was more than can be contained in the river and dams. A number of the country's major dams are over capacity and many more are approaching the critical level, officials said. To control the overflow, authorities are forced to release water, normally into rivers, which raises their levels.