TISTR teams up with Chiang Rai province to outline strategies against floods, earthquakes, and water contamination by reinforcing buildings, developing early warning systems, and installing detection sensors to minimize losses.
Regarding the "Chiang Rai flood" in Mae Sai district, Chiang Rai province faced the largest flood in 54 years in September 2024, with water levels exceeding 2 meters and damage to over 1,700 households.
At that time, Chiang Rai’s situation was described as "critical." Some residents said this was the biggest flood in decades, with some areas that had never flooded before now suffering the same fate. It is clear that many conditions have changed beyond expectations.
Beyond flooding, Chiang Rai also frequently experiences earthquakes because of its geographic location adjacent to Myanmar’s Sagaing Fault, a large fault line over 1,200 kilometers long.
Additionally, it lies at the boundary between the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates, which continuously move and accumulate energy. When earthquakes occur in Myanmar, Chiang Rai also experiences tremors.
There is also a recent issue of "toxic contamination" in the Kok River, polluted with arsenic and lead due to mining operations in Myanmar, adversely affecting the health of local residents.
These concerns reflect public demand for relevant agencies to address these issues promptly to improve the well-being of the community.