CHIANG RAI: At least 500 houses in Mae Sai district have been inundated by a flash flood pouring out of Tham Luang-Khun Nam Nang Non forest park after consecutive days of heavy rainfall.
Rescue workers have been sent to assist flood victims, some of whom were trapped inside their houses by the rising water, Mae Sai district chief Somsak Khanakham said on Tuesday.
The flood-ravaged areas are in tambons Pong Pha and Pong Ngam. A two kilometre inbound section of the Chiang Rai-Mae Sai Road was also closed to traffic, with flowing flood water reported to be about 80 centimetres deep in places.
Mr Somsak said the Tambon Pong Ngam Administrative Organisation had been instructed to set up a temporary shelter for flood victims.
Three neighbouring districts - Chiang Saen, Chiang Khong and Wiang Kaen - were also flooded by overflow from the rain-swollen Mekong River, as its level continues to rise rapidly.
In Chiang Saen district, the river level had risen to 7.6 metres, 2.4 metres short of the crisis point. This was 8cm higher than on Monday.
In Chiang Khong district, agricultural land in tambon Si Don Chai was flooded by overflow, which also flowed into buildings and stores in tambon Lai Ngao in Wiang Kaen district, where water levels in some areas stood at over 2 metres.