Many Thai areas remain flooded

CHIANG RAI, THAILAND, September 18 (TNA) - Many Thai areas, particularly those in the northern region, have remained flooded, causing damage and hardships to locals in affected zones. In Chiang Rai Province in the Thai North, the Sai Lom Joy Border Market in Mae Sai District was temporarily closed on Thursday, as rapidly rising water levels in Sai River, bordering Thailand and Myanmar at Mae Sai and Tha Khilek areas respectively, overflew commercial areas both in Mae Sai and Tha Khilek. Floodwater at the Sai Lom Joy Market was measured at about two metres at some zones, forcing more than 500 shops and stalls to close temporarily, while the water level at the Sai River was even as high as 4.70 metres under the Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge. Damage to goods and other properties at the border market was expected to be at least 50 million baht, while the Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) in Mae Sai had cut off power in the inundated areas for public safety. In Phichit Province in the Lower Thai North, continual heavy downpours caused runoffs from the Phetchabun Mountain Range to overflow local canals and inundate more than 50 houses in Muang District and over 1,000 rais of rice fields (2.5 rais=1 acre), which were about one metre under floodwater, prompting the provincial irrigation office to open water sluices of branch canals to drain floodwater to the Nan River. In Khon Kaen Province in the Thai Northeast, floods at residential communities in the Baan Ped locality of Muang District, measured as high as over 50 centimetres a few days ago, have been receding, allowing affected villagers to now begin surveying damages to their properties. (TNA)