Citizens in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai regions have experienced two tides of flooding in the last few days, with locals calling them the worst storms in decades.
Inhabitants and volunteers are also removing the sludge that has been covering the roads and person’s homes despite the fact that the floodwater has since cooled in most areas.
Many people are pondering the factors that contributed to the disaster as a result of the big flood and its aftermath.
The Bangkok Post spoke with water management and executive experts who suggested that the authorities reevaluate urban planning and get cooperation with Myanmar to target potential cross-boundary storm risks.
Change of territory usage
The storm that ravaged the Mae Sai region of Chiang Rai state was strange, according to Thanapon Piman, a senior scientist at the Stockholm Environment Institute, due to its frequency as well as the large amount of dirt it brought with it.
This could be attributed to the combination of the impact of Typhoon Yagi, which caused heavy rain to fall in Myanmar, and the annual precipitation that started in August. The Mae Sai River was flooded by the extra water, together with dirt, indicating there had been a change in property use in headwater places.
According to Mr. Thanapon, the mud comes from two sources: agriculture or mine in forest areas and healthy landslides. However, exposed soil became clay in the creek.
” However, while there are no statistics on this, my assumption is the large amount of mud did n’t come solely from nearby areas”, he said. ” Over 80 % of it good originates from the Mae Sai River watershed”.
He claimed that the storm was not the result of the surplus water being released from Laos and China’s upstream dams as some people believed. Coping with potential overflow risks is a huge problem, especially when the Thai side is located inland.
In the short term, aside from rehabilitating flood-ravaged societies, open water-level tracking facilities in the highlands of the Mae Sai River is a must-do to function as an early warning system, he said.
According to Mr. Thanapon, the next step will be to create a more effective crisis response plan or improve town planning.
Because the location is a special economic zone and citizens are unlikely to emigrate, that would be a challenging task. A disaster evacuation plan may be put in place to ensure that those who are in flood-prone regions are unharmed.
Local authorities do not have enough resources to manage the situation, so the central government has intervene in the long run to restore disaster protection barriers or increase water drains capacity through the irrigation system.
Mr Thanapon stressed the need to foster cooperation with Myanmar, saying assistance must be multi-dimensional, interesting communities, businesses and academic type.
The location is not only under the command of the Myanmar state but also that of ethnic minorities and military parties, he added, adding that this is a cross-border issue that affects both countries.
He said handling water is simpler than tackling the clay problem because it involves land use and takes a lot more time. We must persuade our neighbor to be aware of the issue with ground erosion.
Because there is n’t information on the amount of dirt, which is crucial for organizing and decision-making, “both factors also have a lot of work to do,” he said.
Flood prevention needed
Suchatvee Suwansawat, a former chairman of the Engineering Institute of Thailand, said the flood was caused by global climate and people activities, such as forest and invasion on rivers.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra, who may work with state companies to create an urban schedule and assure that it is strictly enforced to maintain conservation, said the government needs a strong will from it.
According to Mr. Suchatvee, residents of ocean retention areas should be informed of the situation and given incentives to travel.
” It happens every month, and how terrible depends on the amount of liquid. If the authorities and the public do not cooperate, it will get worse each time, “he said.
According to Mr. Thanapon, many houses on the Thai side near the First Friendship Bridge obstruct the flow of water. Their demolition may speed up drainage and allow for the development of disaster restrictions.
Regarding Mae Sai’s Sailom Joy Market, a border market that has been severely affected by floods, he said that buildings must be at least two storeys high to allow tenants to relocate to the upper floors during a flood.
He acknowledged that the proposal may call for the collaboration of several sectors, and that residents may struggle to finance renovations. He made the point that businesses may need to relocate if the situation is critical.
In terms of flooding in the city of Chiang Mai, Mr. Thanapon claimed urban communities have little knowledge about how to deal with it because they do not regularly deal with the issue.
He claimed that the” Chiang Mai model” cannot handle extremely high floodwater levels.
That would require a multi-million-baht project, such as a large drainage tunnel beneath the city, to cope with flooding. However, stakeholders will have to weigh the merits of such an investment.
He claimed that the success of the city plan’s revision depends on the public’s support and those in charge of enforcing city planning laws.
He advised people in Chiang Mai to realize that flooding can occur at any time and that given the amount of water, flooding is unavoidable because there is no other way to divert it.
Key venues, such as hospitals, should explore methods to mitigate damage from flooding and consider the measures taken by the Shangri-La Hotel, which used a flood barrier to protect the premises.
” The public must understand that flooding is unavoidable, but its impact can be mitigated for key locations. Fortunately, this time the Bhumibol dam could still take water, which helped with drainage, “he said.
Reclaiming flood plains
The flooding in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai, according to Pianporn Deetes, campaign director for the Southeast Asia Programme at the International Rivers Network, indicates that water retention areas have been occupied by people as a result of the uncontrolled expansion of cities.
According to aerial photographs, the rivers overflowed into previously flooded areas as if they were reclaiming their former territory.
She claimed that the Mae Sai River’s section was much wider than the 1st Friendship Bridge, but that both the Thai and Myanmar sides ‘ embankments have been croached on the riverbanks.
Upstream, she said, there are areas of exposed soil created by mining activities that may also play a role in the mudslides.
” To reduce the severity of future flooding, it’s time we have a good understanding of extreme changes in climate. The earth is’ boiling’ and we need nature-based solutions like preserving wetlands, rather than trying to control the river,” she said.
She acknowledged that transboundary flooding requires international cooperation, but that addressing the issue is a challenge for the government because border areas involve several ethnic groups and require participation from all sides.
Ms. Pianporn also criticized authorities for their inability to prepare for warnings and responses.
The poor and the marginalized are the most at risk, according to her, and the government must find ways to assist people in rebuilding their lives and livelihoods.
When I visited the Nam Kok community in Chiang Rai, I noticed the remains of small food stores. A community that raised vegetables was completely destroyed as an electrician lost both his home and his tools, she said.
Suchatvee: Incentivise relocation to safe areas
Thanapon: Mud volumes suspiciously high
Pianporn: Solutions must be’ nature-based’