CHIANG RAI – On July 11, 2026, communities along the Kok River met in Chiang Rai to prepare for the rainy season. The Hill Area and Community Development Foundation (HADF) organized the event to tackle potential floods and landslides.
Government officials, academics, and local leaders joined forces to review water data and weather trends. Together, they are building a community-led warning system. This setup allows villagers to actively track river changes and make quick emergency decisions.
Key Takeaways
- Seven at-risk villages installed water measuring poles to track flash flood risks.
- Villagers are setting their own evacuation warning levels based on local geography.
- Experts strongly recommend nature-based solutions to solve long-term ecosystem issues.
Currently, seven at-risk communities have installed special water measuring poles. These cover areas from Tha Ton in Chiang Mai down to Mae Yao in Chiang Rai. Key villages include Rom Thai, Mai Mok Cham, and Pha Tai.
Mae Yao Mayor Akkarapong Chalermliamthong recalled the massive floods that hit the region in 2024. He noted that many areas, including Chiang Rai city, suffered heavy damage. In 2025, locals also faced severe water contamination linked to cross-border mining.
Mayor Akkarapong explained that many villagers rely on the river for food and income. However, contamination fears have made people afraid to fish or swim. Now, facing early signs of drought, locals are struggling to plant crops while still watching for sudden floods.
Tracking Water and Empowering Locals
Dr. Daoheuang Kaeochan from Rajamangala University of Technology Lanna shared new water travel data. Her team studied how fast floodwaters move down the Kok River. This vital data helps calculate crucial warning times for each vulnerable village.
Water moves from Rom Thai to Tha Ton in just 12 to 18 minutes. Because this is too fast for standard warnings, experts must use satellite rain data instead. Meanwhile, water takes about two hours to travel the seven kilometers to Mae Na Wang.
At Mae Na Wang, a five-meter water level triggers a basic watch alert. A rise to 6.5 meters means flooding has started, while 7.5 meters signals a severe disaster. Further downstream, villages like Pha Tai have about ten hours to prepare and safely evacuate.
Takeo Toyota from the Highland Peoples Development Foundation proposed a customized color-coded warning system. For example, a yellow mark means prepare, and a red mark means evacuate immediately. He stressed that communities must choose these color levels themselves based on past flood experiences.
Toyota also urged villagers to use modern tools like the Windy app for real-time tracking. However, he noted that locals need proper training to read this satellite data correctly.
Long-Term Solutions and Better Communication
Tuenjai Deetes, a former senator and HADF founder, emphasized restoring the upstream ecosystem. She suggested using nature-based solutions to fix the broken environment. Planting diverse trees with deep roots can easily absorb water and prevent dangerous mudslides.
Deetes noted that current farming habits on steep hillsides are deeply harming the river. She called on the government to promote diverse crops instead of short-term monoculture farming. This lasting change would protect the environment while still providing a steady income for local farmers.
Finally, Tha Luk Village Head Kotchamon Thepsommut highlighted a major flaw in current disaster plans. She warned that cell phone signals often fail during severe weather events. She urged local governments to provide backup radios and more rescue equipment to keep everyone safe.
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