The Muang district of Chiang Rai woke up to a daunting sight on Thursday morning, with floodwaters overwhelming the area. The Kok River’s relentless overflow has resulted in water levels reaching waist-deep depths and steadily climbing. The severe flooding has wreaked havoc, compelling Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai International Airport to announce its closure, with a Thai AirAsia flight at 1.10pm marking the last departure before operations were halted.
Authorities swiftly responded by shutting down several major roads and bridges, restricting access to critical locations such as Mae Fah Luang Chiang Rai International Airport, the bustling five-way Pho Khun intersection, and the provincial hall. The situation became increasingly dire on Wednesday night, prompting swift evacuations. Many residents had no choice but to abandon their ground-floor homes due to the strong, swift currents. Jet skis were dispatched to assist in rescuing those who found themselves trapped amidst the rising floodwaters.
In the heart of Muang district, Chiangrai Prachanukroh Hospital announced that it would only be treating emergency cases due to the extreme conditions. Muang is just one of six districts grappling with the floods in Chiang Rai. The others—Chiang Khong, Chiang Saen, Mae Chan, Mae Fah Luang, and Mae Sai—are also enduring significant hardships. Over 10,000 households have been affected, and tragically, there have been three reported fatalities in Mae Fah Luang.
In Mae Sai district, there was a glimmer of hope as officials reported that the Sai River’s water level was receding. Phahon Yothin Road, which had been submerged, was fortunately back to normal by Thursday. However, the situation in downtown Muang district remained critical and perilous.
The Mae Sai border checkpoint, a crucial passage for travel to Myanmar, remains closed to motor vehicles due to flood-induced damage. Although Myanmar nationals stranded in Thailand hoped to return home on foot on Thursday, coordination with Myanmar immigration officers was necessary to facilitate their journey. Meanwhile, vendors at the Sai Lom Joy market returned to their shops on Thursday morning to begin the arduous cleanup process.
Despite some positive developments, many areas remained under water. In the Koh Sai community, residents regained access after days of isolation, yet certain locations continued to be submerged. The Thai Navy, police, rescue workers, and officials from tambon Mae Sai municipality joined forces on Thursday to evacuate those stranded in their flooded homes for over 48 hours.
Relief efforts in the Muang district intensified, with rescue teams and boats springing into action to aid flood victims. The Kok River’s breach had sent torrents of water into various parts of the downtown area. Floodwater stood approximately 30 centimeters high at the Phor Khun intersection, making navigation difficult.
Suttipong Juljarern, the permanent secretary for the Interior Ministry, reported a slight reprieve in some areas as the Sai River’s water level fell by about one meter, nearing normalcy. However, over 40 provinces remain on high alert, anticipating possible flash floods as a new tropical depression is expected to intensify through September 18.
The Office of National Water Resources issued warnings as the threat of more torrential rain loomed from Friday to early the next week. Since Tuesday, flood-related incidents have claimed at least nine lives in the northern provinces of Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai. The Meteorological Department forecasts a continuation of heavy rainfall across the nation, intensifying concerns.
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation provided a sobering report: Since mid-August, floods and landslides have led to the deaths of 33 people across Thailand and impacted nearly 110,000 households. Typhoon Yagi, the year’s most formidable storm to strike Asia, has left a catastrophic trail, affecting about 34,000 Thai households primarily in the northern region. The storm’s devastation extended beyond Thailand, claiming at least 157 lives and leaving 139 missing in neighboring Vietnam.
For Chiang Rai and the affected districts, the struggle against the floods continues, with residents and officials alike fighting an unwavering battle for recovery and resilience against nature’s formidable challenges.
This just shows how unprepared the Thai government is for natural disasters. They always react too late!
It’s easy to criticize, but the scale of this disaster is unprecedented. The authorities are doing everything they can.
Linda, no offense, but disasters like this are becoming more common. The government needs to have a proactive plan in place.
Exactly, and given past experiences, they should be better prepared by now!
Maybe this is exactly what happens when you ignore climate change. Expect more of this if we don’t act now.
Some people will use any excuse to push their agenda. This isn’t about climate change, it’s about immediate response and management.
I can’t even imagine the pain and fear those people must be going through. My thoughts are with them.
Feeling sorry isn’t going to help them. They need action and assistance, not just thoughts.
Every bit of awareness helps, Carter. Donations and volunteer efforts are fueled by empathy and visibility.
Sophia is right. Raising awareness leads to support and that can make a big difference.
Closing down the airport is a drastic measure, but obviously necessary. What a mess!
My family lives in Chiang Rai. It’s a nightmare scenario. They were evacuated but lost so much.
Shouldn’t there be better infrastructure to prevent these kinds of disasters? Other countries handle this better.
Jake, it’s easy to say that from the outside. Thailand may not have the same resources as some ‘other countries.’
True, but this kind of flooding is going to become more common. They need to start putting long-term solutions in place.
Does this mean tourists should avoid Chiang Rai for the foreseeable future? I had plans to visit.
Honestly, it’s best to delay your trip. The local community needs time to recover without the added strain of tourism.
But tourism dollars could help with recovery too. Just be respectful and supportive.
The constant report of fatalities is heartbreaking. What more can be done to protect these people?
Emergency planning and proper infrastructure investment. It’s the same story every time.
More international aid wouldn’t hurt. Thailand can’t handle this alone.
The Mae Sai border checkpoint being closed is going to disrupt so many lives. It’s a vital link for both countries.
Maybe it will push both governments to improve infrastructure and disaster response. Silver lining?
Perhaps, but the immediate effects are devastating for those who rely on it daily.
The market vendors have such a tough job cleaning up. Hope they get the support they need.
It’s really inspiring to see the community come together during this crisis. Kudos to the rescue teams!
Yeah, but let’s not overlook the fact that many of these issues could have been mitigated with better planning.
Why isn’t there a better flood warning system in place? People barely had time to react!
Reading about the hospital restrictions is terrifying. What happens if someone has a non-flood-related emergency?
The loss of life is tragic. My heart goes out to the families of those who died.
How do we even begin to fix the damage from something like this? It must be overwhelming for the local government.
Start with rebuilding infrastructure and providing direct support to the worst-hit areas. It’ll take time.
And probably a lot of money. Makes you wonder how they’ll fund all these efforts.
I hope international organizations step up to help. Thailand can’t handle this alone.
Scary to think about how these disasters are becoming more frequent. Global warming is real, people!
This whole situation is so saddening. More needs to be done by everyone, not just the Thai government.
I wonder if the tourism industry will recover anytime soon from this. It’s a major hit for sure.