As extreme weather conditions persist, Mae Sai district in Chiang Rai is experiencing catastrophic floods, while landslides in nearby Chiang Mai have resulted in six fatalities.
Disaster response officials have reported significant flooding in tambon Mae Sai, Wiang Pang Kham, and Koh Chang, with floodwaters rising to approximately one meter and flowing at a rapid pace.
Residents living near the Sai River in Mae Sai district are being urged to prepare for possible evacuation. In the Tham Luang-Khun Nam Nang Non National Park, floodwaters were seen cascading from Tham Luang Cave, known for the heroic rescue of a group of Thai schoolboys in 2018.
According to Sutthipong Julcharoen, the permanent secretary for the interior, Mae Sai district is facing its worst flooding in 80 years.
In the Mae Fah Luang district, a landslide has claimed one life, injured two others, and left one person missing. Local authorities reported that the Kok River’s flow has dangerously increased to 1,000 cubic meters per second due to runoff from Myanmar.
Rescue operations are currently underway in Chiang Rai, as many residents have turned to social media seeking assistance, sharing images of the flooding affecting their homes. Strong currents are complicating rescue efforts, with residents advised to move to higher ground and to avoid wading through swift waters.
In several areas, residents of single-storey homes have been seen stranded on rooftops, while elderly individuals unable to reach higher ground are perched atop cabinets inside their flooded houses.
In the Mae Ai district of Chiang Mai, two landslides impacted tambon Doi Laem on Tuesday, resulting in six deaths and three injuries. Nearby communities have been alerted to the potential for flash floods and excess runoff.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra stated on Wednesday that she would refrain from issuing commands until delivering her government policy statement before parliament on Thursday. However, Deputy Prime Minister and Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai has assured that military personnel have been deployed to assist in flood-stricken areas.
The Prime Minister announced that two shelters for flood victims have been established in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district, along with a large kitchen capable of providing up to 600 meals per service. Despite these efforts, she acknowledged that aid remains insufficient, emphasizing that all agencies are mobilizing to manage the crisis. Approximately 9,000 households are currently affected by flooding.
Phumtham highlighted the government’s commitment to monitoring the Mae Sai situation, noting that addressing the flooding will be a priority for the Prime Minister following her policy address. A meeting with relevant agencies to strategize on flood response has been scheduled for Thursday at 2 PM.
Residents escape rising waters by climbing to the rooftop of their homes in tambon Wiang Phang Kham, Chiang Rai.
