Roads Washed Out: 11 Routes Inaccessible Amidst Severe Flooding

Northern Thailand Grapples with Widespread Road Closures

Torrential rainfall has rendered eleven rural road sections impassable across five northern Thai provinces, disrupting crucial transportation links. The Department of Rural Roads is actively monitoring the situation and dispatching teams to assess and mitigate the damage.

Flooding Cripples Northern Transport Networks

Heavy downpours have led to significant water accumulation, overflowing waterways and eroding road surfaces, making travel impossible for residents. As of 10:00 AM on August 1st, 2025, the Department of Rural Roads (DRR) reported that eleven critical rural routes are completely inaccessible in Chiang Rai, Phayao, Phrae, Tak, and Sukhothai provinces. Engineers are on standby to commence urgent repairs once water levels recede, prioritizing the installation of safety measures and warning signs.

Affected Provinces and Specific Road Closures

The DRR has detailed the specific routes impacted by the severe flooding:

Chiang Rai Province (4 Routes)

• Chor. 4008 Tor. 1020 Intersection (Km. 87+200) – Ban Sri Sa -at, Khun Tan District and Phaya Mengrai (Km. 4+100 – 4+500)
• Chor. 4011, Tor. 1020 intersection (km at 118+070) – Ban Muang Seven Tree Chiang Khong District (Km. 0+400 – 0+800)
• Chor. 4027 Tor. 1020 Intersection (Km. 109+200) – Ban Khee Yong Nuea Chiang Khong District (Km. 2+875 – 2+905)
• Chor. 5031 Chor. 4014 Intersection (km at 0+700) – Ban Suea Tai, Chiang Khong District (Km. 5+100 – 5+300)

Phayao Province (2 Routes)

• Nov. 4029, Tor. 1148 (km 95+225) – Ban Lek project in the big forest according to the royal initiative of Ban Nong Ha, Chiang Kham District (Km. 8+900 – 9+000, 10+850 – 10+950, 11+11+900, and 12+13+13+000)
• Yom River Bridge (Sai Nov 002), Pong District (Km. 0+000 – 1+000)

Tak Province (2 Routes)

• Fall. 3002 Tor. 105 Intersection (Km. 4+000) – Ban Wang Kaew, Mae Sot District and Mae Ramat (Km. 11+950 – 12.000, 12+100 – 12+150, and 16+500 – 16+550)
• Fall. 3006 Tor. 105 Intersection (Km. 9+025) – Ban Wang Pha, Mae Sot District and Mae Ramat (Km. 7+290 – 7+300)

Sukhothai Province (2 Routes)

• Sor. 4053 Tor. 1180 Intersection (Km. 11+650) – Ban Khlong Map Plub District, Srinagar District (Km. 0+500 – 0+800)
• Tor. 7058 Tor. 1180 Intersection (Km. 13+150) – Ban Sai Jai Thai, Srinagar District (Km. 0+500 – 0+800)

Phrae Province (1 Route)

• Bridge over the Yom River (Sai Por. 001), Nong Muang Khai District (Km. 0+485 – 1+185)

The DRR is also prioritizing the removal of debris, such as branches and garbage, from affected roadways to ensure smooth passage for the public once conditions improve.

Community Support and Information Channels

For those requiring assistance or seeking further information regarding the road closures, the public is advised to contact their local rural road offices or the DRR directly at Tel. 1146.

This extensive flooding highlights the vulnerability of rural infrastructure to extreme weather. Globally, climate change is intensifying rainfall patterns, leading to more frequent and severe flood events. For instance, recent data from the World Meteorological Organization indicates a significant increase in the frequency of heavy precipitation events in many regions over the past two decades (WMO, 2024).