Chiang Mai: The current in the Mae Khan River in Chiang Mai Province remains strong, blowing away roads and knocking down power poles. Officials are rushing to install new poles, causing severe hardship for nearly a hundred households. Today, the flood situation in Doi Lor and San Pa Tong districts, Chiang Mai province, has begun to improve. The water level has receded in many areas. There is still water remaining in low-lying areas, only about 10 centimeters deep. However, the water in the Khan River is still flowing fast, blowing away roads and knocking down three electric poles. More than a hundred households are suffering.
According to Thai News Agency, the Doi Lor Provincial Electricity Authority is rushing to install power poles amidst the rain that has been falling all morning. They are working to restore the electrical system to provide electricity to the villagers in Ban Sop Ao community, Santisuk Subdistrict, Doi Lor District. It is expected that the repairs will be completed and electricity will be provided to the villagers by 3 p.m. today. Although the flood situation has improved, the authorities are still monitoring flash floods, especially in the southern districts of Chiang Mai, including Chom Thong and Hot, as water is still flowing along the rivers and increasing in volume.
In Mae Sai District, Chiang Rai Province, people were worried about flooding all night after a warning was issued that a large mass of water flowing from Myanmar would reach Mae Sai last night. Disaster management volunteers from the Friends in Need (Pha) Foundation, along with Wiang Phang Kham Municipality, the Chao Tak Army Special Forces, Pha Muang Task Force, and the Royal Irrigation Department, helped fill big bags and prepare to install a 14-inch water pump in the Ban Tham Pha Chom area to cope with flash floods.
Additionally, the big bag walls were reinforced at various risk points. From checking the water level in the river this morning, it did not rise as expected. The water level measurement point under the first Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge was at 3.80 meters, down from 4.00 meters last night. This morning, the communities along the river, from Tham Pha Chom Community, Sai Lom Joy Market, Koh Sai Community, Mai Lung Khan Community, and Mueang Daeng Community, were still safe and did not experience any flash floods. However, it is still not reliable because the sky in the area is still dark and there is intermittent rain. Therefore, flash floods must be monitored 24 hours a day.
In Loei Province, heavy rain has hit many areas of Phu Kradueng District. The accumulated rainfall this morning was 103 mm, while yesterday it was as heavy as 113 mm, exceeding 100 mm for two days. The water level in the Phong River has risen to the critical level of 10.50 meters, and it is expected that the water mass will reach Tambon Sri Than at 11:00 AM.
Mr. Suphakit Noisuwan, Phu Kradueng District Chief, revealed that after continuous rain for several days, and heavy rain at Phu Kradueng National Park, he had the security sector urgently survey the water level in the Phong River, Sri Than Subdistrict, which was found to be rising rapidly and beginning to overflow and flood people’s homes. There was flooding along the Sri Than-Na Noi route, making it impossible for small vehicles to pass.