Clean up begins as Chiang Mai floods recede

Flood cost estimates from 1 billion Baht

Chiang Mai Mail online reporters

Clean up began around the city on September 30 as the flood waters receded.

After some of the worst flooding to hit the city in decades recedes, the city begins cleaning up. The Night Bazaar area and Nong Hoi were both hit hard by flood waters and areas along the river were heavily inundated with flood waters.

Chiang Mai Mayor Tussanai Buranupakorn apologized to Chiang Mai residents for the failure to keep the Ping River from flooding parts of Chiang Mai. Sandbags failed to hold back the flood waters, which reached higher than the 2005 floods. He said the city has initially estimated damages and lost revenue of at least one billion baht although Bangkok Bank experts put the costs much higher, at 3 billion baht.

The Chiang Mai Chamber of Commerce Secretary General Wittaya Krongsap estimates that flooding has cost local businesses more than 600 million Baht a day, with three days of flooding reaching 1.8 million Baht.

Preecha Rengsomboonsuk, the Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment flew in from Bangkok to assess the flood situation; here he visits flood stricken areas with Boonlert Buranupakorn, President of the Provincial Administration Organization (right) and Mayor Tussanai Buranupakorn (left).

As flood waters receded, businesses quickly turned towards cleaning up with many stalls re-opening on the Night Bazaar as soon as the waters had receded. Clean up around the city remains in force.

More than 20,000 people have been affected by flooding in Chiang Mai as areas in the province were also hit hard by the floods.

Further rains may be headed Chiang Mai’s way this evening as the remnants of Typhoon Nesat hit northern Thailand. The Thai Meteorological Department warns of possible flash floods and landslides especially for Chiang Rai, Nan, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Sakon Nakhon and Nakhon Phanom as the storm degrades into a low pressure cell slowly moving west-northwest.

Chiang Mai Governor ML Panadda Diskul took to the streets to inspect flood damage from the very first day, here he is seen wading through flood waters on September 28, 2011.

A bit of flood water didn’t slow these vendors down on September 29, 2011. (Photo by Nicky Scott)

Volunteers get aid packages ready for delivery to flood stricken residents.

Residents pitched together to help fill sandbags as the river continued to rise.

The municipality began delivering food and water to flood victims within hours after the city was inundated.

Giving a helping hand quickly spread, as those more fortunate helped those in need. This man was given a lift through the flood waters in Nong Hoi (Photo courtesy of Miguel’s Restaurant in Nong Hoi).

Little boys seemed to like the day off school. (Photo by Ron Lister)

It’s difficult to keep the Thai smile down, even in times of disaster

(Photo by Nicky Scott).

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Sad to see the damage and grief that this flooding has created.

I clearly recall the past governments demand to safeguard CM from flooding again, as it did in 2005, have fallen on deaf ears.

Two weeks of little rain and low water , prior to the Dams being Opened, were not used for a Slow Release.... Sad..

Were the Mathematicians that did the following Math in Charge of flood control ? Or the ones speeding around in Big SUV's , sending waves barreling at delicate targets ?

" flooding has cost local businesses more than 600 million Baht a day, with three days of flooding reaching 1.8 million Baht. ": = 1.8 BILLION

Don't expect the government to do anything but react to a situation, for-thought is not their strong point.

Sad to see the damage and grief that this flooding has created.

I clearly recall the past governments demand to safeguard CM from flooding again, as it did in 2005, have fallen on deaf ears.

Two weeks of little rain and low water , prior to the Dams being Opened, were not used for a Slow Release.... Sad..

Were the Mathematicians that did the following Math in Charge of flood control ? Or the ones speeding around in Big SUV's , sending waves barreling at delicate targets ?

Do we live in the same city?

Two weeks of little rain and low water?? Seriously? Where have you been? This has to be one of the most ridiculous posts I have seen in some time. There was very heavy rain and even heavier in the mountains, and its been raining for weeks. Do you realize that Chiang Mai is already 500mm OVER the annual rainfall average and its only the beginning of October?

How many Thai politicians does it take to lift a small bag of food?

ANS: About 9, with one holding the camera.

How many food bags does a small river boat hold?

ANS: One if 10 politicians and a big camera are sailing in it.