Heavy Rains Causes Flooding at Chiang Rai’s “Sai Lom Joy Market” in Mae Sai District

CHIANG RAI – The Meteorological Department warning the North and Northeast of more rain expected over the next two days as the tail end of typhoon Mangkhut passes. Residents have been warned that heavy forest runoff.

The Meteorological Department warned that the North and the Northeast will get more rain, with heavy downpours, from Sept 18 to 19.

In a warning issued late Tuesday morning, the department said tropical depression Mangkhut, now in South China after being downgraded from a typhoon, was moving west-northeast at 30kph. It was expected to further weaken to a low pressure cell today over Yunnan, China.

Several shops along the Thai-Myanmar border were flooded on Tuesday morning as the bloated Mae Sai River burst its banks following over 10 hours of heavy rain in Chiang Rai.

Officials said the river flooded the road at the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge in Mae Sai district and nearby shops and at the Sai Lom Joy Market.

Meanwhile, in neighboring Phayao Province, runoff from the Nam Lao River flowed into at least three villages in tambon Mae Lao. Ban Khanaeng village was the worst hit, with a section of a bridge swept away. Around 5am, the Nam Yuan River burst its banks and caused flooding in nine villages.

An 11-year-old boy was reported missing in tambon Mae Lao around 5.30pm on Monday, Mr Charan said. Before the downpour hit, the boy had gone swimming in the Mae Lao River.

Searchers had failed to find the boy, and he was feared drowned.

In Nan, forest runoff triggered by hours of heavy rain flooded at least 20 houses in tambon Phasing, Muang district. The water rose about 50cm.

District authorities warned people living in at-risk areas along the river and in the hills to brace for expected flooding and mudslides.

In Lampang, runoff from Doi Luang, Tham Pha Thai, Jae Son and other mountains triggered by several hours of downpouring rain caused creeks in Wang Nua district to overflow, sending a large amount of water streaming into at least 10 villages in eight tambons.