CHIANG MAI, Thailand – Authorities in Chiang Mai and Lamphun provinces have issued flood warnings and evacuation orders as water levels continue to rise. The Flood, Storm, and Landslide Disaster Relief Operations Center raised the flood alert to Level 3, advising residents in vulnerable areas to prepare for potential river overflows and severe flooding.
In Chiang Mai, Governor Nirat Pongsitthithaworn has ordered the evacuation of residents from Saraphi, Hang Dong, and San Pa Tong districts. The governor urged people to relocate belongings, vehicles, and livestock to higher ground. Elderly residents and bedridden patients are being moved to evacuation centers, and field teams have been dispatched to assist. Temporary shelters with a capacity for 890 people have been set up across the province, with 203 people already relocated. Three local hospitals have been designated to handle any medical needs, and mobile mental health teams are providing support to those in distress.
Meanwhile, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) has alerted residents in seven subdistricts of Lamphun’s capital district to evacuate vulnerable family members and safeguard valuables as floodwaters continue to rise. Current assessments indicate that water levels in Saraphi district’s Nong Phueng subdistricts could increase by up to 1.5 meters, while low-lying areas in Lamphun may face similar inundation levels. The Royal Irrigation Department has deployed water pumps and equipment to accelerate drainage and mitigate flooding in affected communities. Water is being diverted to Bhumibol Dam, which is currently holding 69% of its capacity.
Further north in Chiang Rai province, a large-scale restoration campaign has been launched, with the goal of completing rehabilitation efforts by the end of October. Deputy Minister of Defense Gen. Natthaphon Narkphanit is overseeing operations in Wiang Pa Pao district, where military engineering units have been mobilized to assist in restoring damaged infrastructure. Similar recovery efforts are underway in Mae Sai district, led by the Naval Civil Affairs Command. (NNT)
