Sai River bursts banks to flood Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district

BANGKOK: Two days of heavy rain apparently under the influence of Tropical Depression Yagi caused the Sai River to burst its banks and flood several villages in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district on Tuesday (Sept 10) morning.

The district has been hit with heavy downpours since Sunday, when Yagi was downgraded into a tropical depression over Vietnam, but with influence over the North and upper Northeast of Thailand.

The villages that were affected by the Sai River overflowing included Ban Tham Pha Jom, Ban Koh Sai, Ban Mo Lung Chon, Ban Pham Kwai and Ban Muang Daeng.

The overflowing river also flooded a border market, Sai Lom Joy Market.

Earlier, district officials had warned residents along the river to move their belongings upstairs.

Officials of the local electricity office also came out to disconnect electric power for fear of fatal short circuits.

Mae Sai Municipality also dispatched officials to build emergency flood levees along the riverbank in an effort to prevent more floodwaters from the river from flowing in.

Local residents said it was the worst flooding since the severe event in the district in 2022. - The Nation/ANN