A stretch of Highway 1195, nestled between kilometre markers 12+725 and 13+600 in the Sawankhalok district of Sukhothai province, faced Mother Nature’s wrath on Saturday and had to be closed to traffic. (Photo: Sukhothai Highways Office)
Following days of relentless downpour, the floods showed no mercy, washing away a substantial portion of the road. As such, people planning to travel this route need to be aware that it’s now impassable. Sitthichok Leemingsawat, the director of the Office of Highways 4, confirmed the unfortunate news and urged caution for those traversing the area.
For drivers in need of real-time updates on road conditions and traffic, assistance is just a phone call away. The local highways offices are at their disposal, or alternatively, the Department of Highways’ 1586 hotline is operational 24/7 to provide the latest information.
On that eventful Saturday, caretaker Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai stepped up to the plate, spearheading a team of ministers and officials to survey the extensive flooding in Sukhothai firsthand.
The impact of these floods has been nothing short of staggering—65,409 rai of land has felt the brunt. In particular, 43,747 rai of farmland has been battered across 168 villages in seven districts: Muang, Kong Kailat, Sri Satchanalai, Sri Samrong, Sawankhalok, Sri Nakhon, and Khiri Mat. This devastating natural event has touched the lives of 10,016 households, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
While the community braces itself for recovery efforts, the memories of the disastrous 2011 floods loom large. However, PM Phumtham is optimistic and has reassured the public that measures are in place to prevent a repeat of that catastrophic year.
The flooding in Sukhothai is genuinely heartbreaking. How can we still be so unprepared in 2023?
Unprepared? I think the local government is doing everything it can! Sometimes nature is just overwhelming.
I get that, Katie, but look at the 2011 floods. Shouldn’t we have learned from that experience?
Exactly! They had over a decade to improve infrastructure and response plans.
The complexity of flood management can’t be overstated. Structural and non-structural measures both need to be in place, but they often aren’t due to funding issues.
Who cares about the roads? The real tragedy is the impact on the farmland. Our food supply is at risk!
As someone who’s seen floods ruin crops, I totally agree. It’s my worst nightmare.
While I feel for the farmers, people need safe roads to escape danger! Both are important.
We need better irrigation systems and flood-resistant crops. This isn’t just a one-time event.
Instead of pointing fingers, we should be discussing long-term solutions and preventative measures.
Preventative measures? Like what, more concrete walls? We need to restore natural floodplains!
I think it should be a mix of traditional and modern solutions. We can’t rely solely on nature.
Good point, Paul. Education and community involvement are also key in disaster preparedness.
Why don’t we have better technology for predicting and alerting people about floods? A simple text alert could save lives.
That’s a good idea. But implementing such systems on a large scale can be challenging.
We do have the technology, but often the problem is funding and political will to implement it.
How are families supposed to stay safe if the roads are washed out? We need better evacuation plans.
Exactly. My biggest worry is how to get my kids to safety if something like this happens here.
The challenge is the scale and speed of these floods. Planning is essential, but real-time responses are even more critical.
Maybe this is a sign we need to rethink our relationship with nature. Climate change is real!
Couldn’t agree more. We need to act now or we’ll see more of these disasters.
Climate change is definitely a factor, but so is urban planning and infrastructure.
Why isn’t this in the international news? This is a big deal!
It probably is, Johnny, but local news always gets swamped by bigger global issues.
I was planning on visiting Sukhothai next month. Should I cancel my trip?
It might be best to wait until things settle down. Safety first!
Tourism will actually help our economy recover. Just be cautious.
Thanks for the advice! I’ll keep an eye on the updates.
Floods are nature’s warning signals that we are ignoring our environment. It’s time to wake up!
I hope the government acts quickly to help Sukhothai residents rebuild and recuperate.
What’s the long-term solution here? We can’t just keep patching things up annually.
Long-term solutions involve both policy changes and public awareness. It’s a multifaceted issue.
And international cooperation. Floods aren’t just a local problem.
I hear that Thailand has a disaster relief fund. Let’s hope it’s put to good use this time.