Four communities in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district evacuated

People living in four flood-prone communities in Mae Sai district of Thailand’s northern province of Chiang Rai have been advised to evacuate to temporary shelters, at Phrom Vihara temple and the district’s conference hall, immediately, ahead of the anticipated arrival today of a mass of water from upstream, which is expected to exacerbate the current flooding.

Hua Fai, Koh Sai, Mai Lung Khon and Muang Daen communities, which sustained heavy damage in the devastating floods last year, are currently inundated again by overflows from the Sai River. Many residents are, however, reluctant to evacuate because they are concerned about their property.

Worayut Khomboon, the district chief officer, said that overflows from the Sai River broke through the temporary floodwall, which consisted of large sandbags, and started flowing into the four communities at 3am this morning.

He also said that a large amount of debris got stuck in the supporting pillars of a bridge across the river, prompting the district officer to deploy a backhoe to clear it.

Worayut admitted that the most worrisome problems for his office and the municipality are the buildings located on the river banks, which obstruct the free flow of the river.

He said that some of the buildings have been demolished, but some remain, because their owners refuse to move out.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who is currently on a European tour to promote Thai “soft power”, has instructed the Interior Ministry to monitor the flood problem in Mae Sai district closely and to help those affected.

She has also instructed the Ministry of Public Health to take care of people’s health and to collect water samples from the river for testing for contaminants.

Interior Minister Anutin Charnvirakul said construction of the floodwall along the river and a flood levee are under way and they are expected to be completed in June.

He also said that he has instructed the governors of all northern provinces to brace for potential flooding and to coordinate with local administrations, to warn the people in flood-prone areas and to help flood victims.