Chiang Mai declares 21 districts disaster areas

The Chiang Mai’s Public Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Centre has declared 21 districts of the province disaster-affected zone after average temperatures falling below 15 degrees Celsius.

The latest declaration of more areas stricken by the cold spell was an increase from 12 districts which local relief authorities have declared a few weeks earlier.

Chiang Mai deputy governor Chana Poengpibul said the 21 districts declared disaster areas covers 104 villages with temperatures now plunging below 15 degrees Celsius.

He said any area affected by falling temperature below 15 degrees Celsius for three consecutive days will come under the Finance Ministry’s definition of disaster areas and are subject to relief assistance immediately.

The deputy governor said earlier 12 districts were declared disaster areas and more than 290,000 people were affected.

Provincial authorities are assisting these villagers, and are seeking additional fund of eight million baht to buy blankets for these troubled people.

But the falling temperature is also a boom to tourism industry when officials at the Doi Inthanon national park in Chom Thong district said that mountain-top temperature has dropped now to 0 degree Celsius this morning causing frost in different places.

The dropping temperature attracts an average 5,000 visitors a day to the hill top to experience the cold weather, and watch the sun rise.

But they expected more tourists this weekend.

Source: http://englishnews.thaipbs.or.th/chiang-mai-declares-21-districts-disaster-areas

-- Thai PBS 2014-12-22

Experience cold weather oh my god! Don't need to go to a hilltop to do that, just come and sit on my balcony in Nong Hoi !!

The warmest winter for a few years and it's a disaster zone! What happened to previous year's blankets?

"He said any area affected by falling temperature below 15 degrees Celsius for three consecutive days will come under the Finance Ministry’s definition of disaster areas and are subject to relief assistance immediately."

It's not like this isn't an annual event that everyone should be both prepared for or used to

And just 15 degrees? Seriously?

The warmest winter for a few years and it's a disaster zone! What happened to previous year's blankets?

Maybe sold as Hill-tribe mementos ?

Amazing Thailand!!! 15 degrees is a disaster? Last year was much cooler and probably lasted much longer than we will see this year. People around the world prepare for seasons whether it be hot or cold. Buy a jacket and an extra blanket for Christ sake!!! If it was -15 I might agree but this is just stupid.

..........one would think that the reduction of the electric bill would be welcome.....

(...mind you....concrete box structures are not so comfortable when the temperature goes below 20 degrees....)

....no insulation to speak of, generally.....

...when we lived in Chiang Rai 10 years ago....we were lucky to find a portable heater for sale at one of the 'Home' stores....a German brand....

...we sealed our windows somewhat and used it in the bedroom....it made a nice difference.....

Buy a jacket and an extra blanket for Christ sake!!! If it was -15 I might agree but this is just stupid.

That's fine and dandy if you are in a position to afford it. Have you ever spent any time in the cool season in some of the villages in the north? I have and can sympathize with their plight. The homes of the villages I spent time at were hutches on stilts with very little protection from wind or cold. Winds just go right through them. No electricity but they usually had a communal TV outside for everyone. Powered by a car battery which was taken down the hillside on back to recharge and brought back up for another night.

It is miserably cold and found sleeping difficult even though they supplied us with their or donated blankets. Hypothermia can easily set in at 15 degrees or lower and deaths are reported every year from such.

As the saying goes, walk a mile in their shoes.

What would they do if it really got cold?

..........one would think that the reduction of the electric bill would be welcome.....

(...mind you....concrete box structures are not so comfortable when the temperature goes below 20 degrees....)

....no insulation to speak of, generally.....

...when we lived in Chiang Rai 10 years ago....we were lucky to find a portable heater for sale at one of the 'Home' stores....a German brand....

...we sealed our windows somewhat and used it in the bedroom....it made a nice difference.....

Yes I also have a heater in the bedroom a two legged one. Runs on hugs and kisses

Below 15, not 15 below. I checked high for my hometown: 11C (Portland Oregon). This winter thing seems to sneak up on them every year around this time....

Another procurement of blankets spells another opportunity for the line of government officials to help themselves for this year end bonus.

Amazing Thailand!!! 15 degrees is a disaster? Last year was much cooler and probably lasted much longer than we will see this year. People around the world prepare for seasons whether it be hot or cold. Buy a jacket and an extra blanket for Christ sake!!! If it was -15 I might agree but this is just stupid.

Amazing Thailand.... Hub of CRAZY DECISIONS....

This seems to be an overreaction? It also seems to be one that occurs every year. One wonders why the authorities are annually caught on the hop.

Or is this simply an annual propaganda exercise?

Does this include 7-elevens? And why is there no Snow Man emoticon?

http://www.boredpanda.com/coldest-village-oymyakon-amos-chapple/

Another 'shoot one's self in the foot' moment for LOS. Maybe last year or the year before Chiang Mai area was designated a 'disaster' because of smoke pollution. Having realised this might give out the wrong (smoke) signals TAT made a hasty U turn and issued an 'alls well' bulletin to keep the tourist Baht coming in. Presumbly TAT will soon think of a catchy advert to dispel any negative vibes.

No thinking forward nor backward !

The government has learned from earlier years and specialy from last year. Read Tywais post and try to think better. It has to do with people, in particular elderly and children, Its called compassion.

In Family Mart near my condo yearly average is under 15.

Another 'shoot one's self in the foot' moment for LOS. Maybe last year or the year before Chiang Mai area was designated a 'disaster' because of smoke pollution. Having realised this might give out the wrong (smoke) signals TAT made a hasty U turn and issued an 'alls well' bulletin to keep the tourist Baht coming in. Presumbly TAT will soon think of a catchy advert to dispel any negative vibes.

They have,,Its a selfie contest.http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/785938-tat-launches-thailand-only-selfie-contest/#entry8835225

If this is considered 'disaster' as the weather goes under 15, then i come from an absolutely disaster country lol

Can they supply blankets at the movies too?

The warmest winter for a few years and it's a disaster zone! What happened to previous year's blankets?

Sold em

We live in a village in western Lamphun province, with about 250 houses, many of which are old and dilapidated, with no windows. It has been well below 15 for more than three nights. Some of the seniors truly suffer in the cold. Many in the village do what they can to assist those in need, after all, the senior's pension is only 500 Baht per month. We've never seen a spot of help from either the amphur or the province, and certainly no blankets or winter clothes. If course, we've never been declared a disaster area, but then we don't live in Chiang Mai either. Frankly, I think it's all a load of posturing to appear to be helping.

I also help out in a couple of Karen villages across the line in Chiang Mai province. Their lot is even worse without electricity, and houses where you can see through the walls. In the years I have gone there, I have never seen (or heard of ) even one blanket from the government. If emergency funds are being provided, they certainly aren't bring spent to help the poor.

If this is considered 'disaster' as the weather goes under 15, then i come from an absolutely disaster country lol

Whether 15 degrees is cold or not doesn't depend on the temperature as such but on the humidity, i have been out walking in Bavaria at -20 without an overcoat just a jacket and felt fine, but i have felt cold in Thailand at +20 because of the high humidity.

Can they supply blankets at the movies too?

depends what you are watching, usually you get a raincoat.

I don't envy the cold washes in those temperatures considering hot water is pretty rare in the villages. Yes 15 deg and under isn't extreme for Australia but we do have hot water.

Experience cold weather oh my god! Don't need to go to a hilltop to do that, just come and sit on my balcony in Nong Hoi !!

Come to my home in Buffalo, New York and not only feel the cold but see snow. Had 78 inches in two days.

Maybe some of you should try living up in a mountain village in a wooden box with little or no electricity for a week or two before you start making stupid comments.

The warmest winter for a few years and it's a disaster zone! What happened to previous year's blankets?

Bt8,000,000 for blankets is that what they are looking for. Well look no further than the boss of the C.I.B who spirited away billions and skim a bit off the top of that