The Ban Tham Pha Chom village in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai Province, was the first to receive floodwaters from Myanmar. Many homes were washed away, and others were submerged in mud.
During the flood, the water level reached the second floor of the houses, filling them with deep mud and destroying all belongings. The strong floodwaters completely swept away some homes along the Sai River.
Ban Tham Pha Chom village in Wiang Phang Kham feels like a ghost town, even though it is almost back to normal. The main road in the village has been cleared of mud, and most houses are finally mud-free. Some homes along the Sai River are gone, leaving only cement foundations.
Ms. Phaksiriphat, who has lived in the village her entire life, took reporters to see her home, which is empty. She said she still lives at a relative’s house, and it would be difficult for her to return because she cannot afford to replace the household items destroyed by the flood.
“Everything costs too much,” she said.
When talking to other villagers of Tham Pha Chom, they echoed her feelings. They want to go home but cannot afford to replace everything lost in the flood. They are grateful to have received 10,000 baht each from the government, but that money barely covers their monthly food costs.
Meanwhile, volunteer defense personnel and equipment continue scoping up mud and cleaning homes for villagers in Koh Sai, Mai Lung Khan, and Muang Daeng Mae Sai. They aim to restore the area to normal as soon as possible.
The Ministry of Interior has mobilized more than 1,500 volunteer defense corps nationwide and sent soldiers and machinery to the area to remove the mud quickly.
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Geoff Thomas is an award winning journalist known for his sharp insights and no-nonsense reporting style. Over the years he has worked for Reuters and the Canadian Press covering everything from political scandals to human interest stories. He brings a clear and direct approach to his work.
