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Mae Sai River 'Highly Sensitive' in 2026, Flood Risk Rises

Mae Sai River 'Highly Sensitive' in 2026, Flood Risk Rises

MGR Online•Society•18d ago

Reader Briefing

Experts warn of major flooding risk for the Mae Sai River in 2026 due to environmental changes, personnel turnover, and Myanmar's construction of higher embankments, exacerbating outdated flood control measures.

  • •Experts and local officials highlight increased flood vulnerability of the Mae Sai River in 2026 due to altered environmental conditions and changes in responsible personnel.
  • •Myanmar's construction of higher embankments along the river, coupled with a failure to dredge as agreed, is raising concerns about faster water flow and increased flood risk for Thailand.
  • •Thai authorities are implementing repair and construction of embankments, with short-term projects valued at 39 million THB, and mobilizing resources for urgent measures.
  • •Previous flood events in 2024 and 2025 demonstrate the river's volatility, prompting preparedness plans including early warning systems and evacuation procedures.

Overview

  • •On May 7 (today), Chuchip Pongsai, Governor of Chiang Rai, and Rutchitsak Ransi, Deputy Governor, led meetings on disaster prevention.
  • •The Meteorological Department has forecast potential rainfall between May 7-10, signaling the start of the rainy season in May.
  • •Temporary and semi-permanent embankments in Mae Sai district were completed in 2025 but sustained damage in several areas.
  • •The 3rd Army Area has dredged 14 kilometers of the adjacent Ruak River and the Department of Military Engineering has dredged another 18 kilometers.
  • •Myanmar has not fulfilled its agreement to dredge 12.8 kilometers of the Mae Sai River but has instead focused on building embankments approximately 3-4 meters high, over 1 meter higher than those on the Thai side.
  • •The higher embankments and lack of dredging on the Myanmar side are causing the Mae Sai River to become shallower and flow faster, potentially causing widespread flooding.
  • •Military officials will coordinate with Myanmar to expedite dredging, and the province has planned short-term embankment construction costing 39 million THB, with repairs expected to finish by May 2026.
  • •Governor Chuchip Pongsai has ordered the mobilization of all forces and machinery to Mae Sai district starting May 8, 2026.

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Key Quotes

Rass. Dr. Seree Supharatid
"The Mae Sai River in 2026 is more sensitive than in the past because responsible personnel have all changed, and the environment on both sides of the country has changed. If it rains even just 40 millimeters, flooding may occur."
สภาพแม่น้ำสายในปี 2026 มีความอ่อนไหวมากกว่าอดีต เพราะมีการเปลี่ยนตัวผู้รับผิดชอบหมดแล้ว สภาพแวดล้อมทั้ง 2 ฝั่งประเทศก็เปลี่ยนไป หากมีฝนตกลงมาแม้เพียงแค่ 40 มิลลิเมตร ก็อาจเกิดน้ำท่วมได้
Rass. Dr. Chuchok Aupong
"Myanmar has built very high embankments, while Thailand has built parallel ones but can only accommodate water at a medium level."
ฝั่งประเทศเมียนมามีการทำพนังสูงมาก ส่วนฝั่งไทยก็สร้างขนานกันไปแต่สามารถรองรับน้ำได้เพียงระดับกลางเท่านั้น
Chuchip Pongsai
"The province has planned well for each stage, including short-term measures. Embankment construction costs 39 million THB, and repairs are expected to be completed within May 2026 for sure."
ตอนนี้ทางจังหวัดได้มีการวางแผนรองรับสถานการณ์ในแต่ละขั้นเอาไว้เป็นอย่างดี ทั้งระยะสั้น การทำพนังมูลค่า 39 ล้านบาท ส่วนการซ่อมแซมพนังคาดว่าจะแล้วเสร็จภายในเดือน พ.ค.2026 นี้แน่นอน

Key Entities

Place

Mae Sai River(น้ำสาย)ℹ️
A river forming part of the border between Thailand and Myanmar, identified as being at high risk of flooding in 2026.
Mae Sai(แม่สาย)ℹ️
A district in Chiang Rai province, Thailand, located along the Mae Sai River and facing significant flood risks.
Tachileik(ท่าขี้เหล็ก)ℹ️
A town in Myanmar, located opposite Mae Sai, Thailand, on the Mae Sai River, and mentioned in relation to flood control measures.
Friendship Bridge 1(สะพานมิตรภาพแห่งที่ 1)
A bridge spanning the Mae Sai River, identified as a critical point that is becoming shallower and may pose a bottleneck for floodwater.
Baan Jotada Water Station(สถานีน้ำบ้านโจตาดา)
A water monitoring station in Tachileik, Myanmar, whose water level readings are used to predict flooding in Mae Sai, Thailand.

Person

Chuchip Pongsai(นายชูชีพ พงษ์ไชย)
Governor of Chiang Rai Province, Thailand, who is actively involved in disaster prevention meetings and has ordered mobilization of resources for flood mitigation.
Rutchitsak Ransi(นายรุจติศักดิ์ รังษี)
Deputy Governor of Chiang Rai Province, Thailand, participating in disaster prevention meetings.
Rass. Dr. Seree Supharatid(รศ.ดร.เสรี ศุภราทิตย์)
An expert in disaster and climate change, advising Chiang Rai Province, who warns of the Mae Sai River's increased sensitivity in 2026.
Rass. Dr. Chuchok Aupong(รศ.ดร.ชูโชค อายุพงศ์)
An expert in civil engineering and natural disasters, Head of the Center of Excellence in Natural Disaster Management (CENDiM) at Chiang Mai University, discussing the impact of embankments on flood flow.
Warayuth Khom Boon(นายวรายุทธ ค่อมบุญ)
District Chief of Mae Sai, who provided an account of past flood events and the effectiveness of implemented flood control measures.

Organization

Thai Meteorological Department(กรมอุตุนิยมวิทยา)
An organization that issued a forecast of potential rainfall in the area, contributing to the urgency of disaster preparedness.
Department of Military Engineering(กรมการทหารช่าง)
A military organization involved in constructing temporary and semi-permanent embankments and undertaking dredging operations along the Mae Sai and Ruak rivers.
3rd Army Area(กองทัพภาคที่ 3)
A military command responsible for dredging operations on the Ruak River, which flows into the Mae Sai River.
37th Military Circle, King Mengrai Maharaj Camp(มณฑลทหารบกที่ 37 ค่ายเม็งรายมหาราช)
A military unit being mobilized to assist in flood mitigation efforts in Mae Sai district.
Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office (DDPM) Region 15(สำนักงานป้องกันและบรรเทาสาธารณภัย (ปภ.) เขต 15)
An office providing backhoe equipment for clearing debris from the Mae Sai River during potential flood events, and serving as a command center.

Law

Embankment construction(การสร้างพนังกั้นน้ำ)
A measure being implemented by both Thailand and Myanmar along the Mae Sai River to control water levels, with concerns raised about the height disparity and effectiveness.