12 Sep, 2024
CHIANG RAI — On September 10, heavy rains caused by Tropical Storm Yagi, combined with continuous rainfall since September 8, led to flooding in Mae Sai District, Chiang Rai Province.
Thee Sai Lom Choi Market area near the first Sai River Bridge was inundated, with water levels in residential areas exceeding 1 meter.
Both residents and officials stated that this flood was more severe than previous occurrences. The Sai Lom Choi Market, home to about 200 shops, has been flooded more than 5 times this year, with water levels still rising. The flood has reached the old Mae Sai-Chiang Saen road, 2 km away from the Sai River.
Local electricity authorities had to cut power to the flooded areas of the market to prevent accidents. This also affected the water pumping station, potentially disrupting water supply to 9 villages in Wiang Phang Kham sub-district and 5 villages in Mae Sai sub-district.
Besides the market, communities along the Sai River, including Sai Lom Choi, Ko Sai, Ko Sawan, Mai Lung Khon, Mueang Daeng, and others downstream, were widely affected. The areas along the Ruak River, where the Sai River flows, were also impacted.
Many affected people posted videos on social media calling for help, with some trying to escape rising waters and others reporting elderly, children, and pets trapped in homes.
Local administrative officials, military personnel, and relevant agencies rushed to assist affected residents. People attempted to use sandbags to prevent water from entering their homes, but many were unsuccessful and had to move belongings to higher ground.
Chiang Rai Governor Phutthiphong Sirimat led local officials to the affected areas to assist residents. Rescue workers hurried to help people trapped in flooded houses, with some rescued individuals expressing shock at the speed and height of the water rise.
The Pha Muang Task Force of the military also deployed disaster relief teams to assist bedridden patients and elderly people trapped in their homes.
Other northern provinces including Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Nan, Phayao, Lampang, Phrae, Uttaradit, and Tak also faced flooding and landslides.
Officials in Chiang Mai Province have reported an update on the landslide and flash flood that affected Ban Pang Ton Duea, Village 9, and Ban Doi Laem in Mae Ai district. The death toll has increased to 2, and one injured person with a broken leg has been rescued, while 4 people are still missing.
Landslide takes place in Mae Ai District, Chiang Mai Province, on September 10, 2024.
Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra posted a message about the flood situation in the northern region, stating that she had received reports from the National Water Resources Office about the flash floods, especially in Chiang Rai and Chiang Mai. She assured that relevant agencies were providing urgent assistance and that she was closely monitoring the situation.
She advised affected people to report their distress to the DDPM hotline 1784 and expressed her support for both the affected citizens and the officials working to address the situation.
Meanwhile, an AP News report on the impact of Typhoon Yangi in Vietnam indicated a continuously rising death toll, potentially exceeding 100, with 70 people reported missing.
AP News stated that the death toll in Vietnam from Typhoon Yagi and subsequent heavy rain that triggered floods and landslides climbed to 87 on Tuesday, with 70 people missing and hundreds injured, state media said.
People fish next to a submerged playground due to flood , following Typhoon Yagi in Hanoi, Vietnam on Tuesday, Sept. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Huy Han)
Typhoon Yagi was the strongest typhoon to hit Vietnam in decades when it made landfall Saturday with winds of up to 149 kph (92 mph). It killed nine people and then weakened Sunday, but downpours continued.
Vietnamese state broadcaster VTV reported that 87 people are confirmed dead and 70 remain missing. Most of the deaths were caused by flooding and landslides, it said.
Water levels in several rivers, including the Red River that flows through the capital, Hanoi, were dangerously high. Authorities evacuated families living close to the river in Hanoi on Tuesday.
On Monday, a bridge collapsed and a bus was swept away, while factories in northern provinces like Haiphong were damaged.
A bridge collapse due to floods triggered by typhoon Yagi in Phu Tho province, Vietnam on Monday, Sept. 9, 2024 (Bui Van Lanh/ VNA via AP)
One of the hardest-hit provinces is Cao Bang, where 19 people died and 36 others are missing because of landslides in the hilly area.
A landslide in Cao Bang tipped over a bus carrying about 20 people into a flooded stream on Monday. It was swept away and rescuers have only been able to save one person. Two bodies were recovered and the others remain missing, state media VN Express said.
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Heavy rainfall and landslides also killed 19 people in northwestern Lao Cai province bordering China. Video obtained by The Associated Press showed soil sliding down a hill onto houses and a road while people fled for safety.
A steel bridge in northern Phu Tho province collapsed into the Red River. Reports said 10 cars and trucks and two motorbikes fell into the river. Three people were rescued while 13 remain missing, state media said Tuesday, adding that rescue operations were continuing.
