Chiang Mai's Night Bazaar Returns To Life

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Night Bazaar returns to life

The Nation

Chiang Mai's Night Bazaar sprang back into life last night, as floodwater subsided. Many other parts of this northern province remained flooded, though.

Vendors in the heart of Chiang Mai quickly reopened their stalls and shops as soon as floodwater disappeared. Although the floodwater was nearly one metre deep yesterday morning, its level quickly dropped down during the day and finally roads became dry once more.

Apart from the Night Bazaar, key markets like Mueang Mai, Waroros and Ton Lamyai also got back to business as usual.

"We will quickly rehabilitate affected areas," Chiang Mai Governor ML Panadda Diskul said.

Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce secretary general Wittaya Krongsap has estimated that flooding caused more than Bt600 million damages to Chiang Mai businesses each day.

"With three days of flooding, the damages are already well over Bt1.8 billion," he said.

He was speaking as many other parts of Chiang Mai were still struggling with flooding.

In Chiang Mai's Saraphi district, rescue workers had to reach many marooned villages by boats. "Flood hit so fast and this time the floodwater level was so high," Amporn Pongphiew, 52, said.

She is a resident in Thanachok Village in Tambon Nongpeung, where floodwater measured about one metre deep.

Her neighbour Thawatchai Karnman described the ongoing flood as the worst in 40 years. "In the past, floodwater was just about kneedeep," he said.

The Meteorological Department yesterday warned that Nesat tropical storm, though hovering in Vietnam, would cause heavy downpours in Thailand's North and Northeast.

To date, a few dozens of provinces in Thailand have already been flooded. According to the Emergency Operations Centre for Floods, Storms and Landslide, floodrelated death tolls already reached 188 and three people were reported missing.

-- The Nation 2011-10-01

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Chiang Mai has almost returned to normal after floodwaters recede

CHIANG MAI, Oct 1 - The northern province of Chiang Mai has almost returned to normal after floodwater receded and all remaining areas hit by the inundation should dry out this evening, according to Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Preecha Rengsomboonsuk.

Mr Preecha who inspected the flood situation in Chiang Mai said that more than 300 municipality staff had been mobilised for clean up operations in the city of Chiang Mai and to inspect damages from the flood.

He asserted that the flood would not have any impact on the tourism industry in the province.

The water level in the Ping river had already receded below the critical point, he said.

Meanwhile, water levels in Pa Sak river that passes through Phra Nakhon Sri Ayutthaya province had increased by at least 30 cm, causing water from the river to overflow its banks and flood Pa Kho-Asia road at Ban Koh subdistrict of Mueang district for about 500 metres.

A section of the road was submerged under 50-80 cm of water, rendering it inaccessible for small cars.

A flood prevention dyke made of soil piled 1.20 metres high was built on the section of the road but the higher water levels and the strong current of water had broken through the makeshift dyke and flooded a local resident's home nearby.

Residents of Wasukree subdistrict were worried that the floodwater would eventually rise to 1-2 metres. Therefore, they were preparing to bolster the height of floors in their homes.

They also expressed fear that if the flood was higher than 70 cm to one metres, that they would be forced to abandon their homes to take shelter in a temple. (MCOT online news)

-- TNA 2011-10-01

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Clean up begins as Chiang Mai floods recede

Flood cost estimates from 1 billion Baht

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[T_Dog]

Just took a cruise through there and on the main drag you would never know there had been a flood. Even the basement 711 was open for business like nothing had happened. Still some water hanging in the low areas of Loy Kroh Road toward the river but the merchants have done an incredible job of getting back to business.

[taniwharua]

Does anyone know anything about the road to Mai Hong Song and how it fared in all the rain?

[T_Dog]

Does anyone know anything about the road to Mai Hong Song and how it fared in all the rain?

Haven't heard anything on the news, but MHS is getting very heavy rain at the moment. Here's a radar precip image.