It has been over a month since floodwaters subsided in Mae Sai, Chiang Rai, and flood rehabilitation in the Thai-Myanmar border area is still ongoing. Many residents are dealing with mud that has filled the first floor of their homes.
The Ministry of Interior reports that the Ministry of Defense is still mobilizing volunteer defense personnel and soldiers from around the country, totaling more than 2,000 personnel and machinery, to remove mud and soil from the roads and homes of residents in the Koh Sai and Mai Lung Khan communities in Mae Sai. Meanwhile, residents and shop owners are also cleaning their businesses.
However, although government agencies aim to clean houses so that all affected residents can move back in by the end of October, a survey found that many families, especially in the Koh Sai community, still have thick mud covering their homes and entrances, making it impossible to return.
Many families have decided to abandon the ground floor of their homes without removing the mud. This choice will reduce recovery time and serve as flood protection for future flooding.
Mr. Boonmee Wansopa, 55, a resident of the Koh Sai community, said his two-story house has flooded every year, mostly knee-deep. This year, floodwaters reached the second floor, causing mud to flow and pile up on the lower floor, nearly reaching the beams of the second floor.
Therefore, we decided not to remove the mud because it would be time-consuming and costly. Instead, we are using soil to fill the space to make it solid. Then, we will renovate the upper floor to create a single-story home. This will reduce costs and recovery time, he said.
At Sai Lom Joy Market, many government agencies, especially the Friends in Need Foundation, have mobilized machinery and personnel to restore the area. Business owners have requested government assistance to reopen and sell their products immediately.
Mrs. Saeng Chandi, 50, a clothing vendor, said her shop still has mud more than 1 meter high. She told reporters that it has been over a month, and they still haven’t cleared it out. She said she doesn’t know when they will be able to open because, in addition to clearing the mud, they will also need time to repair and renovate the shops since almost all were damaged.
Meanwhile, the Chiang Rai Contemporary Art Museum and the Khua Sila Art Association are presenting The Chiang Rai Disaster Archives 2024 event, scheduled to be held from October 19 to December 19, 2024.
The activities will include collecting photographs, paintings, drawings, and video recordings from the entire two-month flooding period, contributed by artists and public media. After the event, all data will be compiled into a public archive.
Professor Suwit Jaipom, President of the Khua Silpa Association, stated that the Chiang Rai Contemporary Art Museum has invited artists from across the country to submit their work for display in the Chiang Rai Disaster Archives 2024 exhibition.
They can submit their work without restrictions on techniques or methods. The size must be 30 x 30 centimeters unframed. If they want to send an image file in advance, they can do so via the Khua Silpa Line app.
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Village in Mae Sai Chiang Rai a Ghost Town as Residents to Poor to Return Home
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.
