KANCHANABURI: The flooding situation in Sangkhla Buri is easing as water recedes, allowing restoration work to begin.
Thailand's longest wooden bridge, spanning the Songaria River and known as both the Uttamanusorn Bridge and the Sapan Mon Bridge, has reopened to tourists after being closed for the last two days.
On Sunday morning, Thai and foreign tourists together performed a religious rite and offered alms to monks at the foot of the bridge before walking across the structure to appreciate the scenic view of the river shrouded in mist.
On Saturday, soldiers, volunteers and operators of tour boats worked together to remove trash, fragments of wood and tree branches deposited by run-off around the pillars of the bridge, hoping to prevent any repetition of damage caused by a similar incident on July 28, 2013.
Floodwaters have receded in Laiwo and Nong Lu, the tambons hit hardest by flash floods that covered houses, temples and schools in mud. Clean-up work has begun to allow some 300 villagers to return to their homes from a temporary shelter at the office of the Tambon Laiwo administration office.
Officials said the situation is likely to return to normal in one or two days, provided that there is no more rain.