Chiang Rai's Disaster Prevention Office has issued an urgent alert: water levels in the Sai River are rising continuously and have reached the base of the First Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge. Residents in low-lying areas are warned to move their belongings to higher ground and closely monitor government announcements.
At approximately 09:04 on 7 Sep 2026 GMT+7, the Chiang Rai Provincial Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office sent mobile alerts to residents in vulnerable areas after heavy rain fell in the river's upper basin. This caused water levels at the Sai River near the First Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge station to rise continuously.
The Chiang Rai Disaster Prevention Office urged residents living in low-lying riverside areas—specifically in Wiang Pang Kham, Mae Sai, and Ko Chang subdistricts of Mae Sai district—to closely monitor the risk of riverbank flooding. They were asked to urgently move belongings to higher ground, care for vulnerable groups such as the elderly and bedridden patients, and follow official warnings from local authorities attentively.
Meanwhile, many local residents appeared alarmed and gathered near the First Friendship Bridge to monitor the rising water levels and alert their relatives. The water has risen to touch the underside of the bridge, causing logs and aquatic plants to accumulate there, obstructing smooth flow. However, officials stated that overall water levels remain manageable and that they are actively inspecting leakage points along big bag barriers to reinforce their strength.
At the same time, residents expressed concern about an elderly man near the old hotel in Ban Ko Sai, Village No. 7, close to the First Bridge. He has been secretly digging and removing sand from big sandbags placed by officials to block water flow for 4 to 5 consecutive days. Although authorities have filed a police report, the man has continued this activity.
At the Sailomjoy Market, which in the past was prone to immediate flooding during high water due to lack of flood barriers, the situation has improved after water control systems were upgraded. Now, water no longer floods the area, allowing vendors and shopkeepers to continue business as usual.
Mr. Pornjet Harncharoenkijwanich, Mayor of Mae Sai Mittraphap Subdistrict Municipality, commented on the situation in low-lying areas: this morning, water levels in various canals rose because local farmers left drainage gates open. Officials promptly coordinated to close the gates to divert water through the Sai River towards the Ruak River as quickly as possible. The situation has since begun to improve, with water levels decreasing and stabilizing.
