Runoff from Myanmar floods Mae Sai and Tachileik

Photo: Chiang Rai/Thai PBS North

Runoffs from the mountain range in Myanmar’s Shan state and from watershed areas, following unusually heavy rainfall of over 100mm/day for the past three days, are being blamed for the severe flooding in Mae Sai district of Chiang Rai and elsewhere in the Golden Triangle, where the borders of Thailand, Laos and Myanmar meet.

The huge quantity of water pouring into the Sai and Ruak rivers has resulted in overflows, flooding the Mae Sai district in Thailand and Tachileik township in Myanmar.

Settlements encroaching into the Sai River have narrowed the water channel, down to seven metres in some places. This means that the river can no longer hold the runoffs, according to local officials.

The worst is not over yet for Mae Sai district, as more runoff water from Myanmar is expected to pour into the Sai and Ruak rivers over the next two days.

According to the Geo-Informatics Space Technology Development Agency (GISTDA), satellite images show 767 hectares on the Myanmar border are submerged, while nearly a thousand hectares in Mae Sai district are flooded.

Meanwhile, in Mueang district, the Kok River, which flows into the Mekong River in Chiang Khong and Wiang Kaen districts, has overflowed and inundated communities around the airport.

Lao people living opposite Thailand’s Chiang Rai province are seeking help from Thai emergency teams, by evacuating people who are trapped in their flooded homes.

Residents of Mae Sai district are wondering whether the flood warning system is functioning correctly, noting that they have experienced eight floods this year, including the current one, and many were caught unprepared.