People closely monitored rising flood levels in Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai on Saturday night. (Photo: Public Relations Department)
CHIANG RAI: The relentless monsoon showed no mercy as the Sai River burst its banks, inundating border markets and residential areas in Mae Sai district late Saturday night. A potent combination of ceaseless downpours and vast torrents from Myanmar’s Shan State brought the river to a roaring flood. This marked the fourth instance of flooding at the bustling Sai Lom Joy market this rainy season, and the third just within the span of a week. When darkness fell on Saturday night, floodwaters swallowed the market, reaching a depth of 1.00 to 1.50 meters.
But the Sai River’s wrath wasn’t confined to the border market alone. The deluge swept through communities along its banks, impacting locales such as Koh Sai-Koh Sawan and Mueang Daeng, and also leaving Mai Lung Khon market under water. The heavy rainfall coupled with intense runoffs from the Shan State exacerbated the river’s overflow. Myanmar’s Tachileik town, which lies across the river from Mae Sai district, also found itself inundated by late Saturday night.
The fury of nature didn’t end there. In Phaya Mengrai district, the Tak River surged over its banks, flooding Ban Thung Chao village in tambon Pae Pao. Waters rose beyond a meter deep at Wat Boonyawat, a local temple that became a temporary casualty of the floods.
The Office of the National Water Resources detailed a hefty rainfall measurement of 120 millimeters in Chiang Rai over the past 24 hours, a sign of just how relentless the rain had been in the northernmost province.
In Thoeng district, a treacherous landslide occurred on the road to Phu Chi Fa National Park. Meanwhile, in Wiang Chai district, a rapid run-off wreaked havoc, impacting 15 villages across tambon Don Sila and tambon Pha Ngam. Not to be left unscathed, Mae Lao district witnessed irrigation canals overflow, affecting four villages in tambon Bua Salee and tambon Pa Kor Dam. Chiang Saen district faced a similar plight as the Kham and Kok rivers spilt over, flooding seven villages in tambon Pa Sak and tambon Sri Don Moon.
According to the local office of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, the devastation affected approximately 2,000 households across Chiang Rai. Officials remained hopeful that the flooding would subside in a few days, provided the heavens decided to hold back further rains.
This flooding is tragic. Climate change is definitely playing a huge role, and it seems like it’s getting worse every year.
Or maybe it’s just natural weather cycles repeating themselves. Not everything is about climate change.
Sure, weather cycles exist, but the frequency and severity of these events are clearly escalating. We need to address the underlying causes.
How about no more rain dancing, other than that we cannot control the sun.
Even if it’s a natural cycle, shouldn’t we still be prepared? The government’s disaster preparedness seems lacking.
How are the locals coping with the repeated flooding? Doesn’t seem like anyone’s talking about that.
They likely aren’t coping well at all. Repeated flooding can destroy livelihoods, homes, and cause untold mental stress.
I visited Chiang Rai last year and people there are so resilient, but repeated events like this would break anyone’s spirit.
This is why urban planning and flood defenses are so important. Why isn’t the local government doing more to build these preventive measures?
Building effective flood defenses requires significant funding and long-term planning. Maybe they don’t have the resources.
Yes, but international aid should step in if local resources are insufficient. Flood defenses are crucial in such regions.
I agree, international cooperation could definitely help, especially in border areas like Mae Sai. This affects people on both sides.
I feel most for the children and elderly affected by these floods. They are the most vulnerable.
Their health can be severely impacted by floods, through waterborne diseases and lack of access to medical care.
Agreed, the impact on the vulnerable populations is often overlooked in discussions about infrastructure and climate.
Why isn’t there more media coverage on this? The world needs to know what’s happening here.
Unfortunately, natural disasters in remote areas often don’t get the media attention they deserve.
Sad but true. Stories that don’t attract high viewership or clicks usually end up being sidelined.
This needs to change. If more people knew, more help might come.
I think this is nature’s way of showing who’s really in charge. Sometimes, the best we can do is adapt.
But adaptation shouldn’t mean passively accepting recurrent disasters. We need proactive measures.
Adaptation and proactive measures should go hand in hand. There’s no excuse for inaction.
True, but there are limits to what we can control. Sometimes, flexibility is our best tool.
I hope this serves as a wake-up call for governments worldwide. Climate action is needed now more than ever.
It’s horrifying to think that 2000 households are affected by this disaster. What can we do to help?
More should be invested in early warning systems and emergency response teams. They can mitigate the damage significantly.
Everyone talks about the problem, but who is actually doing something to fix it?
Just donated to a local charity working on the ground there. Every little bit helps.
The global community needs to band together to address these environmental challenges. No more passing the buck.
Why are border markets always the first to suffer in these situations? It seems like their needs are always overlooked.
Tragic events like these are a stark reminder of our vulnerability. We need more comprehensive planning and action.