FAR NORTH
THEERAWAT KHAMTHITA
Border traders in Chiang Rai's Mae Sai district try their best to cope with severe flooding caused by heavy rain yesterday. Many areas of adjoining Tachilek, in Burma, are also submerged. It is the second time this year the area has been ravaged by floods. |
CHIANG RAI : Flash floods, triggered by heavy overnight rain, caused the Moei river to overflow into border communities along the Thai-Burmese border in Chiang Rai's Mae Sai district yesterday, and in the Burmese town of Tachilek just across the border. Damage is estimated to be in the millions of baht.
Water running off Doi Nang Noen and Doi Pasak flowed into the Mae Sai river, causing it to burst its banks. Riverside communities were inundated.
Three communities _ Sailom Joy, Koh Sai and Mai Lungkhon _ were badly affected. The main Sai Lom Joy market, which houses more than 300 shops, was flooded with water rising to 1.3 metres as of yesterday afternoon.
Goods, mostly electrical appliances from China worth at least 10 million baht, were damaged. The floods also forced Ban Mai Lungkhon school in Mae Sai to suspend classes yesterday.
Officials began distributing drinking water and food to affected residents.
It was the second wave of flooding to hit the district this year. On Aug 2, parts of the district were submerged after heavy rain.
In Tachilek town, water from the Moei river submerged three communities as well as the Tachilek market, where the water level was measured at 1-2 metres. Goods worth about 20 million baht were damaged.
Meanwhile, the Fine Arts Department has prepared flood prevention measures to protect ancient sites along waterways.
Fine Arts Department director Kriangkrai Sampatchalit said he had instructed local offices in charge of preserving artifacts to be prepared for flash floods.
In Ayutthaya, where many ancient sites are located, flood barriers have been erected in front of Wat Chaiwattanaram on the river bank, said Mr Kriangkrai.
Sandbags have also been put up in front of other ancient sites, particularly those in low-lying areas. Water pumps have also been deployed.
In the northeastern province of Ubon Ratchathani, the overflow from the Mekong river flooded all of Pasan village in Pho Sai district.
Roads leading to the village were impassable as the water level reached almost two metres.
Local authorities had to deploy motorised rafts to shuttle local residents in and out of their submerged communities.
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