Mekong River near critical level in Chiang Rai province

CHIANG RAI (THAILAND), July 29 (TNA) - Severe flooding in China’s southern Yunnan province is pushing up waters in the Mekong River in Thailand’s northern Chiang Rai Province to an unprecedented alarming level. On Sunday, the Mekong River was measured at 7.91 metres deep in Chiang Saen district, where the critical level would be just 9.50 metres. Locals in Chiang Saen district say the upstream torrent flowing into Kham and Kok Rivers have already overflowed on to their farmlands. Some corn fields are almost two metres under floodwater. Officials warn that floods from Yunnan may soon push the level of the Mekong River in Chiang Rai up to 10.41 metres, which would be the same level as in 2008 when the area was largely flooded. (TNA)