Since Tuesday, the popular Sai Lom Joy market, located on the border with Myanmar in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district, has been closed and submerged due to flooding from the overflowing Sai River, which has been swollen by recent rains.
On Wednesday, the province’s Public Relations Department alerted residents in four subdistricts of Mae Sai district to prepare for potential floods. The areas expected to be affected are Sri Muang Chum, Koh Chang, Pong Pha, and Pong Ngam subdistricts.
Following this alert, a Facebook announcement advised residents to relocate their belongings to safer, elevated areas and to stay updated with weather forecasts.
In response to the escalating situation, the provincial governor convened an emergency meeting on Tuesday evening with relevant officials to address the current flood conditions.
Flash flooding on Tuesday night impacted two villages in the Mae Sai subdistrict, Piyaporn and Ban Koh Sai, making the water levels too high for large vehicles to assist the affected residents. Consequently, 71 residents have been evacuated to temporary shelters, as reported by the local flood response center.
There is a pressing need for rubber boats in the province to navigate the strong currents, as they are more suitable than the currently available flat-bottomed boats.
Additional flooding early Tuesday morning struck several locations throughout the Mae Sai district following the Sai River’s overflow, impacting villages including Ban Tham Pha Jom, Ban Koh Sai, Ban Mo Lung Chon, Ban Pham Kwai, and Ban Muang Daeng.
The district has been experiencing continuous heavy rain since Sunday, following the downgrading of the Yagi storm to a tropical depression over Vietnam. This storm has significantly influenced weather patterns in the North and upper Northeast of Thailand.
For those interested in donating food and essentials to the flood victims in Mae Sai, please contact 081 796 2095.
