Khon Kaen farms flooded as levee collapses

Water pours through a break in a levee built to protect communities in Muang district of Khon Kaen on Saturday afternoon. (Photo by Chakkrapan Natanri)

KHON KAEN: Part of a levee built along an irrigation canal to stop overflows from the Nam Phong River collapsed on Saturday afternoon, sending large volumes of water to flood 30,000 rai of farmland in Muang district.

Strong currents from the river caused a 30-metre section of the three-metre high earthen embankment to collapse at around 4pm. Water flowed rapidly into paddy fields in nearby villages in tambons Phra Lap and Bueng Niam.

Khon Kaen governor Somsak Jangtrakul rushed to the scene to inspect the collapsed levee and ordered immediate repairs. The collapsed section was in Khui Pho village in tambon Phra Lap. More than 30,000 rai of farmland in the two tambons were submerged.

He ordered the agencies in charge to set up a wall of sandbags to plug the gap in the levee as quickly as possible.

The governor said the affected areas were considered part of a special economic zone in the province where rice and vegetables were grown across vast areas. Local residents also raise chickens and fish.

The levee that broke was the second line of flood defence, said Mr Somsak. The first was built near the Huay Yai water drainage gate, where the sixth Irrigation Office created a large sandbag flood wall on Oct 25.

"This second line of flood embankment plays a vital role in preventing overflow from the Nam Phong River from flooding inner areas," he said.