As floodwaters recede, mud and a lack of tap water and cleaning equipment are hampering efforts to clean up Mueang and Mae Sai districts, which were the worst hit by flooding last week.
Household items, such as mattress and furniture, can be seen piled in front of many houses, awaiting collection by garbage collectors.
Numerous residents of the Koh Loi community in Mueang district, which was hardest hit by overflows from the Kok River, have complained that they are still unable to remove mud from their premises due to a lack of tap water, while cleaning equipment is scarce and its prices are high.
One resident said that the recent flooding was a frightening experience, as he and many others in the Koh Loi community took refuge at a temple. He added that, although he has managed to clean up his house, he still cannot move in because all the belongings in the house have been damaged and he has to buy replacements piece by piece.
He is also unsure whether there will be another round of flooding, as an incoming storm has been reported.
According to the Department of Public Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, more than 52,000 households in nine districts of Chiang Rai were affected by flooding from September 9th to 14th, ten people died and two were injured.
