TAK — 21 August 2026, Torrential rain throughout the night triggered sudden flash floods in Mae Sot, inundating the city’s major commercial areas and forcing residents and traders to scramble to move their belongings to higher ground.
At about 04:00 on 21 August, heavy rain that had continued through the night caused a huge volume of runoff to surge from waterways in the Mae Sot area, flooding communities across Mae Sot Municipality.
Many residents were asleep when emergency announcements warned them to wake up and move their belongings immediately.
The Mae Sot Fresh Market, a major commercial area, was inundated by more than 30 centimetres of water, while several low-lying communities were hit by more than 50cm of flooding.
Mae Sot district chief Kanpong Phiphatmontrikul ordered personnel from the Mae Sot District Volunteer Defense Corps Company 3 to work with Mae Sot Municipality and other agencies to assist residents.
Officials helped move belongings to higher ground and evacuated patients and elderly residents to safer areas.
Meanwhile, along the Thailand-Myanmar border, relentless rain caused the Moei River, which separates the two countries, to overflow its banks by more than 1 metre.
Water levels continued to rise by the hour, flooding areas on both sides of the border. Myawaddy, Myanmar, was also severely affected.
On the Thai side, floodwaters spilled into the Rim Moei Market in Mae Sot, forcing traders to race against the rising water to move their goods to safety.
Long-tail boats could be seen navigating the strong current along the riverbank, helping transport people and pets away from flooded areas as heavy rain continued.
Authorities warned that the situation could reach a critical stage in the afternoon as the Moei River continues to rise.
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has sent a Cell Broadcast warning residents in Mae Sot and Mae Ramat districts that the Moei River is overflowing and water levels remain on the rise amid continued heavy rain.
Residents living along the Moei River, particularly in Mae Pa, Mae Ku, Maha Wan, Tha Sai Luat, Mae Tao, Mae Kasa, Nakhon Mae Sot and Phra That Pha Daeng subdistricts in Mae Sot, as well as Mae Charao Subdistrict in Mae Ramat, have been urged to immediately move belongings and vehicles to higher ground.
Authorities also urged residents to move vulnerable people to safe areas. Anyone requiring evacuation or assistance should immediately contact village chiefs, community leaders or local administrative organisations.
