Mae Sot hit by floods as Moei bursts it banks

[KTMphil]

[h=2]Vendors in Tak's Mae Sot district were forced to suspend business on Friday when the Moei River burst its banks following days of heavy rain.[/h]

About 100 border patrol police and rescuers rushed to the scene to help evacuate the vendors from the flooding, which was about 50 centimetres deep.

About 300 shops operate along the bank of the river, which demarcates the border between Thailand and Myanmar.

A rescue centre was set up to help affected residents in Tambon Thasailuad area.

The floods also reached downtown Mae Sot after water overflowed the spillway of a reservoir. Police had to divert vehicles from Rachakarn Rassadorn Damri 2 and roads around Mae Sot's district office, which were under 70 cm of water.

Mae Sot Municipality has been declared an emergency zone following torrential rains over the past month, which have caused reservoirs and rivers to overflow.

Water in Mae Sot reservoir, located in Tambon Pra That Pha Daeng, overflowed on to the spillway and increased the level of water in creeks, triggering floods in the municipality around 10am.

The municipality office has issued a flood warning for local people to evacuate and move their personal belonging to higher places.

Meanwhile in Chiang Mai province, Tassanai Buranapakorn, mayor of Chiang Mai Municipality, had inspected 10 flood barriers along Mae Ping river after heavy rain in the area over the past two weeks.

Last year, more than 800 cubic metres of water per second flowed pass Chiang Mai Municipality but the capacity of Mae Ping River was able to handle only 500 cubic metres of water per second.

The authorities were not able to increase the river's capacity due to construction blocking the flow. There were also no water retention areas in the municipality.

"We hope that these 10 barriers will prevent Chiang Mai City from flooding this year," Tassanai added.

However, he said Pa Prao Nok community is at risk of flooding as it is in a low-lying area. The municipality could not finish the barrier construction in time for this year's rainy season and will therefore build a temporary dyke and install water pumps to drain water from this area.

Meanwhile, Thai Meteorological Department reported that the northern and northeastern provinces of Thailand can expect heavy rain during next two days. Light rain showers are forecast for Bangkok and nearby provinces



Source: The Nation

 

[MustakimQZ]

Hope it clears up soon.

 

[KTMphil]

TAK, Aug 11- Overflowing water from the Moei River has flooded riverside houses and business areas along the Thailand-Myanmar border in Mae Sot district of Thailand's Tak province, causing cross border trade to come to a standstill.

The water level in the Moei River, which borders Thailand and Myanmar, on Saturday has reportedly surged by one metre.

Torrential rising water continued to overflow into riverside areas and houses on both Thailand and Myanmar sides.

The floodwater has swamped about 10 villages in Tha Sai Luad subdistrict, the Tak immigration office, areas near the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge and the Rim Moei market, which is located on the banks of the Moei River.

The ongoing inundation forced the cross border trade to be suspended and shops were temporarily closed.

Responding to the situation, relevant officials continued assisting affected residents.

In Myanmar's Myawaddy, opposite the border town of Mae Sot, business zones along the border were flooded. Several houses and vehicles were damaged by the overflowing water.

Owing to the closure of cross-border trading ports along the river, deliveries of goods were halted. (MCOT online news)

 

[KTMphil]

A policeman watches cars trying to drive on flooded streets in Mae Sot





Chiangrai Times - The Thailand and Myanmar border was hit by sever flooding after heavy rain was seen on Friday evening.
The Thai News Agency (TNA) reported that trade between the two countries along the border came to a standstill on Saturday after the harbours along the Moei River were forced to be closed temporarily as a result of the flooding.
Officials were reported to have said that cargo boats operating between the Thai border district of Mae Sot and the Myanmar town of Myawaddy had stopped operations as harbours were heavily inundated, making it impossible to unload goods.
Floodwater of over one meter "has inundated both the Thai and the Myanmar border while government offices and more than 10 villages on the Thai side are currently flooded," the TNA report said.
The market, situated near the river, is completely covered with water reaching nearly two meters, and almost reaching the signboard which says "Thailand's westernmost point," erected near the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge.
Officials said houses and cars on the Myawaddy side have been heavily damaged by the severe flooding while harbours are closed for an indefinite period.
Border patrol policemen in Mae Sot have requested two flat-bottomed boats to be dispatched to the area along with reinforcements to help evacuate the sick, aged and children from the inundated villages.