Chiang Mai Flooded, Train Services Halted

[george]

Chiang Mai flooded - LIVE UPDATES

Chiang Mai Mail: The Chiang Mai Mail reports that train services to Bangkok have been cancelled due to flooding on the tracks, station officials are unsure when services will resume.

Schools closed due to flooding

Flooding in Chiang Mai is happening now. CMIS and GIS schools are both closing, Prince Royal has closed for the rest of the week, and Monfort is sending their students home. More info on schools later in this thread.

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Here is a link to keep track of the flood on the Mae Ping.

The river flood status page:

http://hydro-1.com/index.php?id=61&rivercode=0602 (may be hard to access du to heavy traffic!)

Pictures:

Lots of pics later in this thread, plus LIVE updates

[george]

Forest runoff sweeps into Chiang Mai's Mae Taeng, five missing

CHIANG MAI, Sept 28 -- Forest runoff swept into Ban Kai Noi in Mueang Kai subdistrict in Chiang Mai's Mae Taeng late Tuesday night, washing away four homes, with five persons having gone missing.

Meuang Kai Tambon Administrative Organisation chief Duangkam Wuthi said that two days of heavy rain in the subdistrict caused the forest runoff which poured into Ban Kai Noi. Four homes build on the river bank were swept away, and five persons -- three women and two men – were reported missing.

Local government workers and military were rushed to help search for the missing.

Rain continues in Mueang Kai subdistrict as residents face difficulty due to the blackout.

The government’s Emergency Operations Centre for Flood, Storm and Landslide reported that 23 provinces remain affected by the floods which have impacted more than 2 million people and damaged 6.1 million rai (2.44 million acres) of crops and orchards were damaged.

At least 166 people were killed from the flood and flood related incidents.

Chiang Mai's San Sai district chief Wichit Langsan said that the heavy rain had caused flooding in two villages in Mae Faek subdistrict, with one metre high, affecting more than 200 households.

The water also inundated Phrao-Chiang Mai road to a depth of 50 cm, making the road inaccessible to small vehicles.

Water also overflowed from Huay Kaew and Mae Faek reservoirs in addition with forest runoff and the district office had warned residents to be prepared for the higher flood.

At the Government House, Prime Minister Yingluck Shinawatra chaired a videoconference with the government’s Emergency Operations Center for Flood, Storm and Landslide and Chiang Mai, Lop Buri and Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya to follow up the flood situation.

The premier said she wanted the faster warning system to alert the residents about the flood and order the Meteorological Department, Royal Irrigation Department, and the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology to work together.

She also urged the agencies concerned to work by adhering with the 2P2R policy -- Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Recovery.

After the meeting, the prime minister presided over a ceremony to send off a caravan of flood aid which was held in front of Government House.

Two thousand boats will be delivered to Lop Buri, Uthai Thani, Ang Thong and Chainat provinces with 500 boats scheduled for allocation and distribution to each province. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-09-28

[george]

FOUR DEAD

Chiang Mai floods above critical level

Searchers have found the bodies of four members of the family of five swept when their village was hit by hillside run-off overnight in Chiang Mai province, where the flood situation was reported to be above critical level on Wednesday.

Forest run-off triggered by two days of incessant rain struck a village in tambon Muang Kai in Mae Taeng district about 1am, destroying four houses and sweeping away a family of five people.

Rescuers continued the search for the fifth victim, as rain continued pouring down, causing an electricity blackout in the entire tambon.

Meanwhile, reports said the flood situation in the northern province was above critical level.

At 10.50am, the water level in Muang district had risen to 3.85 metres and the water flow was measured at 482 million cubic metres per second.

The critical water level is set at 3.70 metres and the water flow at 440 cubic metres a second.

-- Bangkok Post 2011-09-28

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/258692/chiang-mai-floods-above-critical-level

[webfact]

Chiang Mai looks like it'll flood imminently. Debris stacking up against bridge, water getting through sandbags along bank /via@Francis_Wade

[LivinLOS]

Emails I have been sent say GIS is not closing..

But the water levels are high enough to burst banks now.

[webfact]

US Consulate in Chiang Mai closing today & will be closed tomorrow as precaution 4 flooding. Visit our FB page for updates. /via@KristieKenney

[Hieronymous2011]

Is it flooding in Hang dong too? Just like to know if I can go home (Bor Sang) today.

[Rosco911]

The premier said she wanted the faster warning system to alert the residents about the flood and order the Meteorological Department, Royal Irrigation Department, and the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology to work together.

A faster warning system, its been happening for hundreds of years. Sorry but how much warning is needed.

2005′s floods were attributed to incorrect opening of dam sluice gates on a major reservoir, at the same time as a similar storm surge was travelling down the tributaries to the River Ping, resulting in a co-joined surge that inundated the city. Officially the blame was laid on the ethnic minority semi-stateless hill tribe peoples for practising slash and burn farming in the upland forests – allegations vehemently denied by all concerned with the hill tribe peoples.

[JeremyBowskill]

Is it flooding in Hang dong too? Just like to know if I can go home (Bor Sang) today.

Just drove down the Hang Dong road 5 minutes ago and it was fine and no sign of flooding, but it was a little slow as you may expect.

[Tywais]

Is it flooding in Hang dong too? Just like to know if I can go home (Bor Sang) today.

Just drove down the Hang Dong road 5 minutes ago and it was fine and no sign of flooding, but it was a little slow as you may expect.

I live just a couple of kms from Hang Dong and just off Hang Dong road and it was ok there.

[KhunDave]

Is it flooding in Hang dong too? Just like to know if I can go home (Bor Sang) today.

Hang Dong is clear at the moment.

[thailandcalling]

Is it flooding in Hang dong too? Just like to know if I can go home (Bor Sang) today.

Bor Sang is fine.

[george]

Water flows over the top of the Doi Saket dam

Source: ตะวัน ตัด บรูพา

[blazes]

Prevention, Preparedness, Response and Recovery.

and

two days of heavy rain in the subdistrict caused the forest runoff

Prevention would consist of forbidding indiscriminate, even criminal, clear-cut logging.

And jailing the owners of the land who allow forests to be cut in this way, causing millions of baht damage and loss of human and animal life.

[george]

Flood at Mae Taeng district, Chiang Mai exceeds critical level,several homes destroyed,some missing/dead /The Nation

[koosdeboer]

Is it flooding in Hang dong too? Just like to know if I can go home (Bor Sang) today.

Hang Dong is clear at the moment.

flooding in Ban nam prae (hang dong) from ObKhan national park.

[Tywais]

Flood at Mae Taeng district, Chiang Mai exceeds critical level,several homes destroyed,some missing/dead /The Nation

One of staff lives near there and has left work a few hours ago. He mentioned around 20 homes inundated with water.

[UdeBoCM]

Is it flooding in Hang dong too? Just like to know if I can go home (Bor Sang) today.

Hangdong (road) lies 10-11 meters above the bank level of the Mae Ping. There is no way the water could reach it....

The only possible flooding could come from overflowing of little brooks or clogged gates of a canal, and therefore it could only be very localized.

[webfact]

Chiang Mai floods

Two boys die in Fang flash floods, 4 in Mae Taeng, one still missing

Chiang Mai Mail online reporters

Heavy overnight rains in Chiang Mai have seen the river level rise to critical flood levels and many areas along the river are inundated. San Sai and San Kamphaeng are reported to be under water and desperate business owners along the river continue to sandbag. One owner, when questioned, said, he wasn’t sure if the river hit 4.5 m if his place of business would flood but has walled off the doors and sandbagged the front in case of flooding.

Heavy rains this year have inundated the soil causing flash floods and landslides in Chiang Mai where 2 boys were swept away in Fang on September 23 and a family of five went missing on September 28, 2011. Four of the missing have been found dead and searchers continue to look for the fifth missing family member although heavy rains hamper the search.

Chiang Mai Governor Panadda Diskul and officials inspected the damage and directed help to victims of the forest runoff and mudslides in Ban Piang Kok and Pong Nam Ron in Fang district which occurred on the night of Friday, September 23, 2011 and killed two boys, a two year old and an 8 month old baby boy. More than 30 houses were destroyed in the flash flood and over 100 households have been affected.

On September 28, flash floods swept through Mae Taeng’s Mueang Kai subdistrict sweeping away houses, roads and crops. 5 people were swept away in the deluge, and although searchers have found 4 bodies of missing family members, the search continues for the remaining missing person.

Train services to Bangkok have been halted until further notice as the train tracks are inundated in several areas.

Schools along the river have sent their students home and traffic along the river remains backed up. Water crested over the wall along the river near the Dukes and has flooded gardens of businesses located along the river. Area businesses are sandbagging and sandbagging stations have been set up staffed by government staff, soldiers, and members of the public. One such station is located on the Old Chiang Mai- Lamphun Road.

The river road is heavily backed up from traffic out to Mahidol Road, police directing traffic along the bridge at Mahidol encouraged drivers to avoid the areas.

San Sai and San Kamphaeng are reported to be flooded and the Municipality has set up a tent in front of the Municipal building where flood warnings are being issued and people can go to apply for flood aid.

The Thai Meteorological Department warns of scattered heavy rains for the rest of the week as tropical depression “Haitang” weakens over Laos and moves into Northeastern Thailand. Authorities warn of flash floods along rivers and hillsides and warn residents to beware of landslides.

River levels can be checked here: http://hydro-1.com/index.php?id=61&rivercode=0602 (Site may be overloaded!)

More Photos:

[chiangmaimail]2011-09-28[/chiangmaimail]

[george]

UPDATE:

RT @ThaiSold: Water has just breached thebanks in Downtown Chiang Mai, nothing major as yet, but if rain persists...

[george]

Lots of pics and members live reports here:

[thailori]

GIS hasn't closed--just sending students home who are affected by the flooding. Could you change your post so people aren't confused? Thanks!

CMIS has announced they will be closed tomorrow (Thursday 29th) as well--and are asking families to watch their website for updates on further closures.

[george]

TWITTER UPDATES:

PM has ordered a restrucuring of efforts to solve flooding and launched a caravan to help flood victims /

Officials have found 3 bodies which were swept away by flash flood currents in Chiang Mai while 2 remain missing /

Follow our Twitter updates here @georgebkk

http://twitter.com/georgebkk

[Semper]

Don't forget these.

[george]

Chiang Mai City Hall flooded

US Consulate in Chiang Mai: River has overflowed City Hall (our neighbor). Getting ready to seal Consulate to protect compound from flooding #thaiflood

Ping river

RT @geoffchiangmai: Ping river near Narawat bridge ..30mins ago.. http://t.co/GAe2M5hZ

Trains suspended

North-bound trains suspended /Bangkok Post

[OccamsRazor]

The town as a whole does NOT flood. I will be downtown having beers there tonight.

Quite a cavaliar attitude and inacurate. This is 2005 and nothing to say it can't happen again. Perhaps you haven't been here long enough.

"The flooding of downtown Chiang Mai in mid August came as a shock to all of us; and a blow to many. With water levels as high as 4.9 metres by Nawarat Bridge on August 14th, this was the worst flood that Chiang Mai has seen in over 30 years."

More images of flooding downtown not that long ago. http://poleshift.ning.com/profiles/blogs/thailand-falling-rain-flooded

[george]

North-bound trains suspended

Eight trains bound for the North have been suspended because the rail track has been partly flooded in Lop Buri province, State Railway of Thailand public relations chief Nual-anong Wongchan announced on Wednesday.

The eight trains suspended are: Rapid train No 111 Bangkok-Den Chai; special express train No 9 Bangkok-Chiang Mai; train No 201 Bangkok-Phitsanulok; special express train No 3 Bangkok-Sawankhalok; train No 209 Bangkok-Ban Takhli; train No 211 Bangkok-Taphanhin; train No 207 Bangkok-Nakhon Sawan; and rapid train No 109 Bangkok-Chiang Mai.

The SRT will keep the water level under watch before making a further announcement whether to resume the services or continue with the suspension.

Passengers can call hotline 1690 for updated information.

-- Bangkok Post 2011-09-28

http://www.bangkokpost.com/breakingnews/258708/north-bound-trains-suspended

[george]

A flood warning from the Irrigation Dept has been issued for Chiang Mai and Lampoon today.

Announcement (PDF file in Thai language): http://irrigation.rid.go.th/rid1/index_downloads/infor/infor_28082554_17.pdf

[Thai at Heart]

Chiang Mai looks like it'll flood imminently. Debris stacking up against bridge, water getting through sandbags along bank /via@Francis_Wade

I think text like this is inaccurate and unhelpful.

A couple roads near the river may flood today; big deal. Unless you live exactly in that area the only thing you may notice is some traffic jams in some (avoidable) areas.

The town as a whole does NOT flood. I will be downtown having beers there tonight.

http://www.retireearlylifestyle.com/flood_story.htm

This is 2005. My mates house went 2ft under in a moobhan a couple of clicks from the Holiday Inn at that time. Rumour had it, the irrigation department opened the wrong flood gate.

I remember I think in 2000, being knee deep in the Burawong hotel lobby just up from the night market.

[jeanelie]

Chiang Mai looks like it'll flood imminently. Debris stacking up against bridge, water getting through sandbags along bank /via@Francis_Wade

I think text like this is inaccurate and unhelpful.

A couple roads near the river may flood today; big deal. Unless you live exactly in that area the only thing you may notice is some traffic jams in some (avoidable) areas.

The town as a whole does NOT flood. I will be downtown having beers there tonight.

In 1995 the flooding water went over the Mae Ping bridge. In Chan Klan area the water was at certain points 1.50 meter high. Don't be to sure about the water not reaching town.