CHIANG RAI – Lieutenant General Worathep Boonya, the Third Army Area Commander, recently visited Mae Sai district in Chiang Rai to inspect the urgent repairs. The team is rushing to secure the area before the heavy monsoon rains arrive. Military forces are working around the clock to fix broken flood walls along the Thailand-Myanmar border.
The local community suffered severe damage from catastrophic flooding in recent years. This year, officials are determined to prevent another disaster by reinforcing the vulnerable riverbanks.
Key Takeaways
- Project Progress: The flood wall repairs along the Sai River are currently 60% complete.
- Tight Deadline: Officials expect all construction work to finish by the end of June 2026.
- Strategic Upgrades: Troops are using massive big bags and small sandbags to plug critical gaps.
- Joint Cooperation: The military is coordinating closely with Chiang Rai civil officials to protect local border villages.
The repair mission officially started on May 15, 2026, focusing on several broken sections along a 12.8-kilometer stretch. High water levels previously damaged these structures, which were built by military engineers back in 2025. According to reports from MGR Online, the current operations have already reached 60% completion.
Lieutenant General Boonya led a large group of military and civil officers to inspect the high-risk zones. The team walked through the Hua Fai community, which is always the first area to flood when the river overflows. They also inspected the foundations near the first Thailand-Myanmar Friendship Bridge to ensure the structures can withstand strong water currents.
Deploying Heavy Armor and Sandbags
To speed up the process, the military deployed heavy machinery alongside ground troops to rebuild the defenses. The construction area is split into different zones to make the workflow more organized and efficient. In Zone A, which stretches from the border checkpoint to San Lom Joy alley, soldiers have successfully laid large bags.
Meanwhile, workers in Zone B are focusing on protecting residential structures and the local Koh Sai temple. Soldiers are packing thousands of smaller sandbags tightly into the remaining gaps between the larger barriers. Local administrators state that the entire project will take 45 days to complete, keeping them perfectly on track for the end-of-month deadline.
The Sai River serves as a natural boundary line between Thailand and Myanmar, making flood management a complex task. When seasonal torrents rush down from the mountains, the narrow river channels easily overflow into commercial streets. This urgent repair initiative aims to provide immediate safety for thousands of local families and business owners.
As the end of June approaches, the Third Army remains confident that the reinforced walls will hold. Local villagers have expressed relief at seeing the heavy military presence and rapid daily progress on the riverbanks. For now, the race against nature continues as the skies above Chiang Rai begin to darken with seasonal rain clouds.
