Severe Flooding Impacts Chiang Mai as Another Surge Approaches
PUBLISHED: 25 Sep 2024 at 12:39
CHIANG MAI: The Ping River has overflowed, causing significant flooding in downtown and business areas of Chiang Mai’s Muang district late Tuesday night.
Residents are being warned of an impending flood surge from the Chiang Dao district, expected to impact the area by Wednesday night.
The river’s levels have been rising rapidly, surpassing the critical threshold of 4.2 meters at the Nawarat Bridge monitoring station around midnight, and peaking at 4.45 meters by 5 AM Wednesday before stabilizing.
Street flooding has affected business areas along Chang Khan and Charoen Prathet roads, while low-lying neighborhoods in the Pa Daed and Nong Hoi regions have also been submerged.
To mitigate the flooding, Chiang Mai Municipality and state agencies have erected sandbag barriers, and residents have been provided with sandbags to protect their homes.
Drainage systems have been overwhelmed, leading to additional flooding issues throughout the Muang district. Water depths reached 30-50 centimeters in many areas, rendering several roads impassable for smaller vehicles, reminiscent of the severe flooding experienced in 2022.
The Irrigation Office has issued alerts for further flooding as northern runoff, fueled by heavy overnight rainfall, is surging from the Mae Taeng and Nam Ping rivers. This influx is set to exacerbate the already swollen Ping River level by Wednesday night.
Water pumps are being deployed to assist in draining affected areas, and heavy machinery teams are collaborating with other agencies to aid those impacted by the flooding.
A temporary shelter has been established at the municipal hospital for those in need, particularly elderly and bedridden individuals.
Emergency teams remain on high alert as they prepare for the forecasted arrival of additional heavy rainfall.
