Mekong River rises, causing further flooding in Tachileik

Tachileik, Shan State, Myanmar – Several neighborhoods in Tachileik have experienced further flooding since the morning of July 2nd due to rising water levels in the Mekong River, according to local residents. Heavy rainfall since June 28th, along with mountain runoff from the city's streams and from the Wan Mai area, caused flooding to begin in low-lying areas of Tachileik, including the San Sai neighborhood, on July 1st. After these waters receded, flooding has occurred again today due to rising water levels in the Mekong River. "Currently, flooding is occurring in and around the Talok neighborhood and the Makao Kham neighborhood. This is due to water flowing down from the Mekong River," a local resident told Mizzima this afternoon. The Mekong River flows between Thailand and Myanmar, and rising water levels due to mountain runoff have caused water to enter several low-lying neighborhoods in Tachileik. "The flooding the other day was caused by rain, city water, and mountain runoff from the city's streams and the Wan Mai area. Today, the flooding is due to the rising water level of the Mekong River," said an official from the Tachileik Thaddar Charity Association. The flooding in Tachileik, which began on July 1st, is the first of the current rainy season, and residents are concerned that flooding may worsen in the future. "I anticipate the situation will be worse this year. I think all the water that should flow into the Mekong side will end up coming here. This is because all the openings on that side that could let water through have been blocked with large rocks. On this side, nothing has changed. I feel sorry for those affected by the floods. I empathize because I have experienced it myself. I used to live in Talok and lived with floods for two years. I couldn't stand the hardship of the floods, so I moved to higher ground," wrote a local resident on social media. In previous rainy seasons, frequent flooding occurred in the low-lying neighborhoods of Tachileik due to rainfall, rising river levels, and mountain runoff. "The river water rises unexpectedly, it rises quickly, and it recedes quickly. Therefore, when the water rises, we are preparing and coordinating with various organizations to provide necessary supplies for the flooded areas," said an official from the Tachileik Thaddar Charity Association. He urged residents living near the river, especially the elderly and children, to be extremely vigilant during flood events. The Ministry of Social Welfare, Relief and Resettlement of the National Unity Government (NUG) also urged caution in its weekly weather forecast released on June 29th, stating that due to the strengthening monsoon and the influence of cyclones, thunderstorms are possible across Myanmar, with localized heavy rainfall, strong winds, and flash floods possible in some areas.