CHIANG MAI, Thailand – The flooding at Chiang Mai’s Night Bazaar and Chang Klan Road, a key economic hub, has begun to subside. Shop owners are returning to assess the damage and clean their stores as the water level in the Ping River continues to drop. However, areas in Saraphi and Hang Dong districts, which are downstream from the city center, are now starting to experience flooding.
Reports from Chiang Mai on September 28, indicate that the water level in the Ping River has been steadily decreasing, though it remains above critical levels. The receding water has alleviated some of the flood conditions along low-lying areas near the river, where flooding had spread over a 1-kilometer radius in some places. Authorities have been able to install pumps in certain areas to redirect water back into the Ping River.
At the Night Bazaar and Chang Klan Road, where over 200 businesses were affected by the severe flooding, water levels have dropped significantly and are close to returning to normal. Many business owners have started inspecting their properties for damage and are working quickly to clean up in hopes of reopening their shops as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, although floodwaters in the Chiang Mai city center have begun to recede in several locations, areas to the south, including Saraphi and Hang Dong districts, are now facing the impact of floodwaters flowing from the city. Additionally, heavy rain overnight and early this morning has caused flash floods from Doi Suthep to spill onto the Chiang Mai-Hang Dong Road near Kad Farang, leading to traffic congestion.
