His Majesty the King has instructed officials to update him in detail about the flood situation in Nan province and the North.

As the flood-hit northern and northeastern regions prepare for a tropical storm due later this month, His Majesty's Private Affairs Division has collected detailed information from the Royal Irrigation Department (RID).

RID director-general Samart Choknapitak said the information provided included geological and climatic aspects, and agencies' flood-tackling efforts. The division also had an aircraft inspect Nan River for a better analysis of the problems.

Samart said His Majesty instructed the department to clear waterways, to inspect reservoirs in preparation for releasing water ahead of the coming storm, and to update him about progress and problems.

The task of releasing water must be well managed because of the risk of inundating houses in low-lying areas or contributing to a water shortage in the drought season, he said.

Samart said a mega-project costing Bt1.9 billion to develop the Nan River basin would be submitted to caretaker Agriculture Minister Khunying Sudarat Keyuraphan on Monday.

Sudarat will propose to the Cabinet meeting on Tuesday a long-term solution to flooding in Nan and the northern region.

Sudarat said she had instructed ministerial officials to assist flood victims in Nan and to speed the draining of affected areas. Within three days, everything should return to normal, she said, adding she would visit Nan residents this weekend to plan the revival of farmers' livelihoods after the flood waters recede.

Nan governor Parinya Panthong said flood water covering main roads had receded to normal, leaving only some low-lying areas submerged. Officials were draining the water.

Parinya said schools should be open as normal on Monday. The provincial Red Cross Society is raising funds to assist nearly 80,000 flood victims in Muang, Tha Wang Pha and Wiang Sa districts.

Meanwhile, caretaker Public Health Minister Pinij Charusombat said 40,000 more sets of medicines and tools had been sent to Nan. Some 1,000 medical staff had assisted nearly 6,000 patients there, with about half of them sustaining cuts and wounds needing tetanus vaccines and antibiotics to prevent infection.

About 15,000 kilograms of chlorine powder and alums were sent to Nan villagers for cleaning their homes and water sources, while 5,000 pairs of boots were sent to prevent a leptospirosis outbreak and injuries from sharp objects.

In a related development, the rapidly rising Yom River has flooded Pak Kwae village in Sukhothai's Muang district, affecting more than 100 households and forcing a village school to close.

Sukhothai Governor Sukit Charoenratanakul ordered local authorities to closely monitor the river's water level and to prepare for evacuation and rescue operations.