MAE HONG SON– Route 108 between Mae Sariang and Mae Hong Son is still completely closed as of today (28 August) after flash floods caused by the Kajiki weather system. The floods damaged a key bridge and washed away about 80 metres of the road surface.
A couple who were last seen stuck in the fast-moving water remain missing, with no sign of them yet.
After the severe flooding on 27 August, triggered by the storm, several areas, including Phabong and Huai Pong in Mae Hong Son, were badly affected. Bridges, roads, homes, farmland, and property suffered major damage.
The most serious problem is on the main Route 108, at kilometre 317+354 near Ban Huai Pong (Huai Pong sub-district). The bridge here collapsed, making the road completely impassable for all vehicles as of today (28 August).
Governor Ekkawit Meepian, along with relevant agencies, surveyed the damage at the bridge. They found the road had lost over 80 metres of surface. Orders went out for Lieutenant Yodphet Khamsaengdee, Head of Mae Hong Son Highway District, to request a temporary Bailey bridge from the Phichit Roadworks Centre.
This should help traffic flow again as soon as possible, easing difficulties for locals. Route 108 connects Mae Hong Son to Chiang Mai and Bangkok, so restoring it is a high priority. Officials expect temporary access by around 1 September.
The missing couple from Huai Pong are still unaccounted for. The man is 55 and the woman is 36. Witnesses say they last saw the pair clinging to each other, stranded on an island in the midst of rushing water. Rescuers led by District Chief Yutthana Jaoduree, along with volunteers and local officials, have searched downstream but have found no trace so far.
The floods brought about a rare sight that villagers had expected. The Elephant Trunk Waterfall (also called Pha Sawan Waterfall) has appeared on the ridgeline near Ban Huai Pong Kan, about 25 kilometres from Mae Hong Son on Route 108.
This single-drop waterfall only becomes visible after long periods of heavy rain. It flows from the mountaintop and is visible from the road, though the waterfall itself sits deep inside a steep rock face in the forest. If you’re passing through, you can spot its beauty but only during this short window of time.
Yom River Overflows in Phrae
In Den Chai, Phrae, locals are pushing the government to speed up construction of the Khwang Buk reservoir at the headwaters of the Mae Pwak stream. Delays have gone on for 15 years, leaving communities open to repeated flash floods.
Today, water from upriver reached central Phrae, causing the Yom River to spill into low-lying riverside areas by morning. By midday, much of the city centre will likely be underwater.
As of today (28 August), the flash flood situation in Phrae has improved, with water levels back to normal and only damage left behind. However, the provincial disaster prevention office sent a warning via LINE on the afternoon of 27 August that the upper Yom River was rising and had breached its banks.
Water was expected to reach the Y1C measuring station in Ban Nam Khong, Pa Maet sub-district, Mueang Phrae, hitting 9.50 metres (compared to the riverbank at 8.20 metres) by morning. Locals were told to move belongings to higher ground, help elderly people and those with limited mobility to safe places, and stay alert for further government announcements.
At 7.30 am, floodwater had already entered Phrae’s low points: Wat Sawan Niwet, the entrance roads to Ban Khiew, the Chetawan Forest Park, and Ban Rong Khi Pla. By noon, floodwater was expected to cover most of Phrae’s municipal area.
Residents living along Mae Pwak stream in Den Chai have dealt with annual floods for years. They’re urging officials to finally build the Mae Pwak or Khwang Buk reservoir at its source, starting from Huai Rai sub-district, flowing through Den Chai and joining the Yom River at Ban Pak Pwak, Moo 3, Den Chai. Communities along this waterway face regular hardship without flood control.
Mr. Kriangsak Bunmak, head of Huai Rai Sub-district Administrative Organization, said plans to solve flooding by building a reservoir have been discussed since 2010, but nothing has moved forward in 15 years. He urged the government to build the reservoir at Ban Khwang Buk quickly to deal with floods and provide water in the dry season.
District Chief Prujak Jindachamroon explained that building the reservoir on the Yom River’s tributary is one way to reduce disaster risk for those living in the basin. Mae Pwak stream is one of the proposed sites. However, the upper reservoir area is classed as a top-tier watershed, so environmental studies are needed. A public hearing has already taken place, but the review process is slow.
If built, the Khwang Buk dam on the Mae Pwak stream would help lessen flood threats across Den Chai and surrounding communities. Many locals are waiting for the project to get authorized so they can finally have proper flood and drought protection.
