Sukhothai flood: 20-metre barrier breach impacts over 100 homes

Sukhothai’s Sawankhalok district faces a severe crisis as a water barrier has broken, creating a 20-metre gap, causing massive flooding. Over 100 households have been affected.

Yesterday, August 27, reports indicated that the water level in the Yom River, Sawankhalok district, Sukhothai province, continued to rise. Water has seeped under the riverbank barrier at Village No. 6, Tha Thong subdistrict, Sawankhalok district, Sukhothai province, since the previous night.

The situation worsened today as the barrier eroded, resulting in a 20-metre-long breach. The floodwaters surged into and inundated over 100 homes.

Consequently, the local administrative organisation (OrBorTor) established a temporary flood relief centre at Nong Pha To Temple. The concrete barrier initially gave way after water seeped through the road’s foundation, gradually eroding until the structure collapsed.

Pleur, a 57 year old resident of Village No. 6, Tha Thong subdistrict, whose home was flooded by the Yom River, recounted the events. She mentioned that before the barrier collapsed, she had taken refuge at Nong Pha To Temple the previous night, reported KhaoSod.

“A neighbour called me in the morning to say the concrete barrier had broken and urged me to check my home.”

Pleur added that this flood has been severe, noting that even in 2011, the area did not flood.

“In some places, just using sandbags was enough to hold back the water.”

The current mass of water is expected to flow towards the area around Nong Pha To Temple.

In related news, floodwaters from the Mekong River have surged over its banks, affecting agricultural areas and prompting calls for the Thai government to review water management plans and delay the construction of the Pak Beng Dam.

On August 25, it was reported from the banks of the Mekong River in Chiang Khong district, Chiang Rai province, that water levels continue to rise due to the release of water from dams in southern China and ongoing rainfall in the Mekong Basin.