Mekong News: Mae Sai River Embankment Collapses Again

Mekong, September 11 The Mae Sai River embankment in the Makahokhum ward of Tachileik city, which collapsed on September 7, collapsed again around 9 PM on September 10 due to the force of the water, local residents reported. Although the site was temporarily repaired on September 8, water began to seep in from the afternoon of September 10, leading to a further collapse at night and allowing a large volume of river water to flow into Tachileik city without obstruction. "Yesterday, the river level rose to 476 centimeters. The water has receded this morning, but there are more [collapses] to come. We want the sandbags to be rebuilt firmly and properly so that this doesn't happen again when the water level rises with the next heavy rain," said a resident of Makahokhum ward. Currently, although rainfall in Tachileik city is low, heavy rainfall in the mountainous region where the Mae Sai River originates is causing the river's water level to rise, according to local residents. "If it continues like this, with the Mae Sai River flooding, heavy rain, and continuous downpours, it will get even worse. Effective disaster prevention measures are needed. We have been working on this throughout the dry season, and last year we worked on it all year, but we still cannot fully protect the city," criticized a local resident. Despite repair and construction work after suffering natural disasters on September 10, 2024, Tachileik is still experiencing flood damage, leading to criticism from local residents.