Mae On reservoirs quake the worry but hold strong

Reservoirs in the Mae On district have been declared structurally sound after being struck by a 3.4-magnitude earthquake yesterday morning. The Royal Irrigation Operation (RIO) conducted a thorough inspection to assess any potential damage.

Keaurkul Manasamphankul, RIO director, confirmed that the Maintenance Department was tasked with evaluating the structural integrity of the Mae On and Mae Takhrai reservoirs. These reservoirs are located near the epicentre of the quake in tambon Mae Tha.

“No damage was found in either reservoir, and both remain structurally sound.”

The earthquake, originating from the Mae Tha Fault, was recorded at 1.33am yesterday, August 15. The tremor occurred approximately 1 kilometre underground and lasted for around five seconds.

Keaurkul noted that the quake’s effects were felt beyond the immediate area, reaching Mueang, San Sai, San Kamphaeng, and Saraphi districts, as well as parts of Lamphun province.

Simultaneously, in Chiang Rai, the Sai and Chan Rivers overflowed, causing significant flooding in local communities and markets near the Myanmar border.

The Government Public Relations Department reported that the Sai River in Mae Sai district flooded for a second consecutive day, affecting areas opposite Myanmar’s Tachileik town. The popular Sai Lom Joy Walking Street was among the flooded zones.

In the Mae Chan district, the Chan River inundated low-lying areas, including Nuanchan Market. Meanwhile, runoff from the Pong Phrabat Waterfall caused flooding on a section of Phahon Yothin Road next to Chiang Rai Rajabhat University.

Surasee Kittimonthon, Secretary-General of the Office of the National Water Resources (ONWR), reported that 16 provinces were experiencing flooding due to continuous rainfall from August 5 to August 14.

“Four provinces, including Chiang Rai, are facing severe floods.”

In response to the prolonged downpour, ONWR issued a flash flood warning for high-risk areas. This warning follows a forecast by the Meteorological Department of Thailand predicting two storms heading towards Thailand.

The situation remains under close observation as authorities work to mitigate the impact of the flooding and ensure the safety of affected communities, reported Bangkok Post.