Border trade suspended as Mae Sot under water

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FLOODS
Border trade suspended as Mae Sot under water
The Nation

MAE SOT: -- Tak's Mae Sot district continued to suffer from what has been described as the worst flooding to hit the area in 20 years.

The rising Moei River bringing Thai-Myanmar border trade to a total halt for four days, caused Bt1.2 billion in lost business.

Banpot Korkiatcharoen, honorary chairman of the Tak provincial chamber of commerce, said the flood situation in Mae Sot had stabilised, and cars could access roads, but Rim Moei Market along the border was still inundated. He described the flooding, which was triggered by a week of rainfall, as the worst in 20 years as it had lasted for four days and counting - compared to previous flash floods that lasted two days at most. Mae Sot's economy - in particular its Bt300million-a-day border trade - had been adversely affected, he said.

As some areas of Mae Sot were still without power due to the high waters, Tak Deputy Governor Suwat Phronsuwan today presented 500 relief bags and 500 bags of rice to residents of 20 floodhit communities at Wat Don Kaew School.

Deputy Prime Minister Niwattumrong Boonsongpaisan said after a Cabinet meeting yesterday that Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who is on an overseas trip, was greatly concerned about flooding in 25 provinces and had instructed the Interior Ministry and the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department to speedily aid floodhit people.

Two villages at the foot of Khao Yai in Prachin Buri's Muang district were hit by a flash flood late Monday night. Local officials planned to dredge Khlong Chanthu to help drain floodwater into the Prachin Buri River more quickly.

In Kanchanaburi's Sangkhlaburi district, forest runoff swept about 30 foodsellers' rafts, along with floating fish baskets, some 40 kilometres down river, while other rafts sank, Tambon Wang Ka Mayor Pakorn Noiket said yesterday. Pakorn was inspecting the scene of a landslide that damaged a 50metrelong section of pipeline supplying raw water to the municipality's tapwater system, which supports some 2,000 homes. The mayor said repairs to the pipeline would commence once the necessary tools and materials arrived in two days. The municipality could still provide tap water in the meantime, but it would flow more slowly than usual and stop from time to time, Pakorn said.

Attempts to remove floating weeds from around the country's longest wooden bridge, the Mon Bridge, were ongoing, but were being hampered by the strong current as the rain continued, the mayor said.

Up North, Chiang Mai's Mae Ai, Mae Chaem and Mae On districts were also on alert for possible landslides and forest floods.


-- The Nation 2013-07-30

[CrisRMenumate]

Begs the question... where were those emergency funds requested urgently in 2011 for some 350 billion baht to protect against future floods when the people in Mae Sot needed them? Just asking?

[rexaco123]

Just slipping a border run there under the wire a week ago, I noticed that they were completing work on on the Friendship Bridge piles. On my border run there six months ago the piles were sand bagged. This time the sand bags were gone and I could see the new concrete pile caps. Good timing, I reckon.

[billd766]

But But But Yingluck promised there would be no more floods.

[Tomtomtom69]

Does this mean the planned opening of overland access into Myanmar to Thai and foreign visitors via Myawaddy will be delayed? It's supposed to happen this month although not sure what day. Anyway do hope the floods recede soon, so border trade can continue and for the first time in modern history we can travel from Myawaddy to Hpa-an and Yangon overland as planned starting sometime this month.

[Tomtomtom69]

Just slipping a border run there under the wire a week ago, I noticed that they were completing work on on the Friendship Bridge piles. On my border run there six months ago the piles were sand bagged. This time the sand bags were gone and I could see the new concrete pile caps. Good timing, I reckon.

Did you ask Myanmar immigration about which date they are opening overland access to foreigners via this border? If not, perhaps you could find out?