Bangkok: Floodwaters from Doi Suthep inundated communities in Chiang Mai late at night, leaving residents unable to gather their belongings and leaving them submerged. Meanwhile, floodwaters in Lom Sak, Phetchabun Province, have receded, leaving widespread damage.
According to Thai News Agency, flash floods from Doi Suthep, which surged through Huai Chang Khian, quickly inundated homes and shops in the Chang Khian community in Chang Phueak subdistrict, Mueang district, Chiang Mai province, in the middle of the night. The water level ranged from 30 centimeters to one meter deep, leaving most villagers unprepared and unable to collect their belongings, especially electrical appliances, which were left submerged. Some returning from work had to wade through the floodwaters to retrieve what they could from their homes. Many cars were submerged in the water too quickly to move. Villagers said the water came quickly and strongly, marking the second time the flooding has occurred in the past two weeks.
Mr. Kachen Jeakkhajorn, Mayor of Chang Phueak Subdistrict Municipality, urged officials to use large water pumps to pump water out of the community into irrigation canals. He stated that the cause of the flooding was the construction of a bridge over the irrigation canal and the blocking of drainage pipes, which prevented the floodwaters from draining.
The news team recently visited the area to survey the damage this morning, where the water level has receded and returned to normal. Villagers are rushing to assess the damage, with some still moving their belongings to higher ground until the rainy season ends.
The floodwaters that have plagued Lom Sak Municipality in Phetchabun for three days, which previously reached a level as high as one meter, have receded to normal this morning. The water level in the Pa Sak River, which flows through Lom Kao District, dropped more than one meter below the floodwall. However, the flood damage has left extensive damage, particularly to shops near the Clock Tower, a key commercial area in Lom Sak. Some shops remain closed due to damage assessments and cleaning operations, as many shops have yet to remove sandbags from their fronts. Meanwhile, the municipality is rushing to spray water on muddy streets to speed up the city's recovery.