Chiang Rai market shut due to severe flooding
Sai Lom Joi Market, typically lively and bustling, found itself submerged and closed yesterday due to flooding from the overflowing Sai River. The market, located on the border with Myanmar in Chiang Rai’s Mae Sai district, faced the deluge after the river burst its banks late Monday night.
Heavy rainfall had been battering the border region since Sunday night, causing the Sai River to swell rapidly. Traders, alarmed by the rising waters, hurriedly shut their shops and relocated their goods to safer ground. By today, water levels remained as high as one metre in certain riverside areas, according to the public relations office in Chiang Rai.
The Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) responded by cutting power to approximately 300 customers in the flooded zones to ensure safety. Electricity will remain off until the floodwaters recede.
Sai Lom Joi Market, a significant trading hub between Mai Sai and Tachilek in Myanmar, usually sees a flurry of activity. However, the unexpected flooding brought commerce to a halt. District officials are currently evaluating the extent of the damage, reported Bangkok Post.
The Northern Meteorological Centre issued a warning yesterday for continued rainfall, including heavy showers, across the northern region until next Monday, September 16.
In related news, East Pattaya residents are once again feeling the brunt of the relentless rains. Mayor Poramet Ngamphichet and his team swooped into Chok Nimit 2 Village in Soi Boon Sampan 2, Khao Noi Community on Thursday, September 5, to assess the aftermath of severe flooding triggered by heavy rainfall on September 3.
Ten households, submerged by the rising waters, received crucial survival kits and financial aid of 2,000 baht each. The Mayor acknowledged the area’s long-standing flood problems, owing to its low-lying nature.
In other news, Agriculture and Cooperatives Minister Narumon Pinyosinwat took centre stage on Sunday, September 8 as she inspected water management in the Chao Phraya River basin.
