Flood situation 'under control': Thai official

BANGKOK - Thai official expert on water management said the flood situation is still under control, Bangkok Post online reported.

The high water level in the Chao Phraya river, major river of Thailand which run through Bangkok before empty into the Gulf of Thailand, is caused by days of continuous heavy rain but the situation is still under control, Royal Irrigation Department director-general Lertviroj Kowattana said on Tuesday.

The water flow rate from the Chao Phraya dam towards Chai Nat province was 1,800 cubic meters a second, Lertviroj said.

"At this rate, areas at the end of the dam won't be affected except for some low-lying areas where flooding usually occurs every year," Bangkok Post quoted the official as saying.

A total of 14 provinces, mostly in the upper part of the country were hit by flood, with the highest level of flood water of more than one metre deep, affecting about 939,000 people from 335,000 household since the flood started in mid August.