Mae Hong Son Border Trade Route Reopens After Landslide
Heavy rain and landslides closed Mae Hong Son's key border trade route to Myanmar for a period, but authorities have cleared the debris and reopened the Huai Phueng crossing to resume normal operations.
A key border trade route in Mae Hong Son has reopened after heavy rain triggered landslides that blocked access to the Huai Phueng temporary border trade crossing, provincial authorities said.
Akkaradech Wanchaiyathanawong, president of the Mae Hong Son Provincial Administrative Organisation, said heavy rainfall and flooding on 7 September caused soil and rocks to slide onto the road between Huai Phueng and Huai Sai Khao villages in Huai Pha Subdistrict, Muang district.
The landslide initially blocked the route, preventing all types of vehicles from passing. The provincial administrative organisation deployed heavy machinery to clear the debris and reopen the road. The route is now accessible to all vehicles, allowing border trade operations through the Huai Phueng crossing to resume as normal.
The Huai Phueng crossing serves as a trade route with Hmawbi, Myanmar, and is the province's largest border trade channel by value. The route has repeatedly been affected by landslides during the rainy season, with soil and rocks sliding onto the road and disrupting transport between the two sides. Authorities said the rapid clearance was carried out to facilitate border trade and reduce disruption for traders and businesses operating on both sides of the border.
