The North is still in crisis. In Wiang Pa Pao District, Chiang Rai Province, flash floods have inundated houses and properties. In Lampang, flooding is severe, with some areas flooded as high as 3 meters. Assistance is being rushed to those affected.

Villagers in Ban Hin Lat, Wiang Pa Pao District, Chiang Rai Province, recorded the moment a flash flood hit their village. The floodwater, accompanied by logs and mud, quickly overflowed, causing many villagers’ cars to be swept away by the strong current.

The heavy rain throughout the night also caused the water level in the Lao River, which flows through Wiang Pao Pao District, to overflow and flood houses in 3 sub-districts and 6 villages: Ban Pa Sak, Ban San Pu Loei, Tambon Pangiew, Ban Fei Hai, Ban San, Ban San To, Tambon Ban Pong, and Ban Pa Bong, Tambon Wiang. Houses along the banks were affected along the entire stretch, and the water also flooded high on Highway 118, Chiang Mai-Chiang Rai, in 2 major areas: Ban Buak Khon, Village 9, Tambon Mae Chedi
Mai, and in front of the Christian Church of Ban Sai Moon, Tambon Pangiew, Amphoe Wiang Pa Pao, due to continuous rain throughout the day and night. Even though it is still raining in the area, the water level is likely to rise further because there is still rain in the upstream areas above the Mae Chang Khao Reservoir, where the water has already overflowed the springway, as well as the Doi Ngu Dam, where there are reports that the water has also overflowed the springway.

Mr. Phongsak Phetkongkaew, Wiang Pa Pao District Chief, reported that the amount of water in Mae Chedi Mai Subdistrict has flowed down to join the water in Pangiew, Wiang Kalong, Ban Pong and will flow down to Wiang Subdistrict. Wiang Pa Pao District has previously announced to inform the public to prepare themselves through the loudspeaker tower, Line group and radio center of village headmen and subdistrict headmen. Communication during a crisis, especially in remote areas or areas with high flooding, bridges or roads being cut off, will
use the method of communicating to the village headmen and subdistrict headmen via Motorola devices from the Department of Provincial Administration, which are still in good working condition during the crisis.

The water level rose almost 2 meters, and people had to be evacuated quickly.

In Wang Nuea District, Lampang Province, water from the Wang River overflowed and flooded villages along the Wang River. The water level was almost 2 meters high and in some places, it was as high as 3 meters. The highest level was at Ban Tung Pao, Ban Mai, where there were houses along the Wang River. Patients and elderly people were trapped in their homes. In some places, there were dormitories along the Wang River. Rescue workers had to rush in to help and bring them out safely. The water level is currently stable. Lampang rescue workers are rushing to bring in flat-bottomed boats to help and bring more people out of their homes.

Currently, there is still continuous light rain in the area all day. The Disaster Preventio
n and Mitigation Department of Lampang Province has informed people living on both sides of the Wang River and the entire route that they are at risk because there is still rain in the area and the Kiew Lom and Kiew Kho Ma dams have released more than 161 cubic meters per second.

Monks take rescue boats out to help villagers

In Phrao District, Chiang Mai Province, heavy rain throughout the night caused flash floods in several villages. Phra Khru Prichaphiwat, abbot of Wat Thung Luang, led the Phrao Wang Hin rescue team with two motorboats to help people in flooded areas, especially Ban Mae Phuak, Mae Wan Subdistrict. The water level was high and villagers were on their roofs. The rescue team used motorboats to help them and they were able to get them out safely. They also went to help a bedridden patient in Ban Huai Mae Pang and brought him to a safe area.

Floodwaters from Doi Suthep inundate Chiang Mai Municipality

While Chiang Mai Municipality had heavy rain throughout the night until morning, it caused
flash floods on Doi Suthep to flow along streams to Mae Kha Canal, overflowing and flooding the Chiang Mai Municipality area. Villagers were affected, no less than 300-400 households, many communities such as Fa Mai Community, Kad Kom Community, College of Dramatic Arts Community, Si Ping Muang Community, Hua Fai Community, many people were stranded in their homes, relatives had to wade through the water to deliver food.

While officials had to close the traffic route on Suriyawong Road, Fa Mai Community, Nantaram Road Soi 5 K, the water level was still 30-50 centimeters high, but there were still motorcycles and cars that went through the water, causing several motorcycles to stall. Meanwhile, shops had to put chairs or gas tanks in front of their shops to slow down cars.

While Chiang Mai Railway Station still has people gradually traveling to wait for the train, there is a problem with the broken rails in Mae Tha District, Lamphun Province. The Chiang Mai Railway Station has arranged buses to pick up passe
ngers from Chiang Mai to board at Lampang Railway Station, but there may be some people who are inconvenienced, so the railway has refunded the full amount.

Landslide breaks Khun Tan railway

In Lamphun Province, a landslide occurred on the railway tracks near Khun Tan Railway Station, Village 8, Tha Pla Duk Subdistrict, in the middle of the night, causing the northern train line from Lampang to Lamphun to Chiang Mai to stop running. Officials had to quickly clear the route. Meanwhile, the governor of Lamphun Province ordered the Mae Tha District Chief to go down to inspect the area where the landslide occurred, where water had eroded the railway tracks, and where trees had fallen blocking the way up to Ban Khun Tan. He will also clear the area to allow normal travel and help approximately 60 people, including residents and tourists, who were trapped at Khun Tan Railway Station and were unable to return.

The State Railway of Thailand has announced to the public that there has been a landslide and flash floo
ds have eroded the rocks on the northern route between Mae Tan Noi – Khun Tan – Tha Chomphu. Therefore, it is announcing the closure of the route and the suspension of train services between Nakhon Lampang and Chiang Mai. The State Railway of Thailand will transport passengers by car from Nakhon Lampang to Lamphun and Chiang Mai stations instead until the repairs to the tracks that have been eroded by the landslide are complete.

Source: Thai News Agency