On September 14, 2014, the municipal administration of Nong Khai issued a red alert warning residents to prepare for potential flooding after the Mekong River breached a sandbag embankment, causing water to inundate the Phra That Temple community. The situation has raised concerns over whether current flood prevention measures will hold as the river’s water level continues to rise.
Deputy Company Commander of the 24th Army Circle, Lt. Satawat Nukul, expressed urgency, stating that his team has been reinforcing the embankment with sandbags since late Saturday night without rest. He also requested additional support from the provincial governor, including large bags and concrete barriers, fearing that the current sandbags may not withstand the increased pressure from the river.
The community surrounding Phra That Temple, which houses about 100 hotels, hostels, and food shops, has been severely impacted, with businesses forced to close for days due to the flooding.
Though the water level in the Mekong River saw a slight decrease by Sunday morning, authorities urged residents to remain vigilant.
Elsewhere, similar flooding threats persist. In Nakhon Phanom province, the Mekong River continues to rise due to ongoing heavy rainfall. Evacuations have been carried out in Ban Don Paeng, where residents have been relocated to safety. Local officials have also provided hay to cattle farmers after grazing areas became submerged.
Further north in Loei province, the Chiang Khan district has received six water diversion devices from Udon Thani, intended to redirect water from the Huai River into the Mekong, alleviating pressure on local water levels.
Water expert Dr. Seri Suparatit, of the Inter-governmental Panel on Climate Change, predicted that it could take 10 more days before Chiang Rai sees relief from the flooding. He explained that around 350 million cubic meters of water remain in Myanmar, flowing gradually into Thailand’s Kok River and eventually into the Mekong. This slow-moving water mass continues to pose a flooding threat to Chiang Rai, particularly the Mae Sai district, which recently experienced its worst flood in three decades.
Dr. Seri emphasized the need for the Thai government to develop a comprehensive long-term flood management plan, along with a robust information system, to mitigate future flooding risks in the region.
Officials from various provinces, including senior military personnel, have been actively involved in relief and prevention efforts across affected areas.
