Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra has announced that aid is being dispatched to assist approximately 9,000 families affected by the heavy flooding across the northern provinces of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai. The floods are linked to Typhoon Yagi, which has already caused significant damage in the region.
The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department confirmed that four people have died due to the extreme weather conditions. In Chiang Mai province, two individuals were killed in a landslide, while another two lost their lives in Chiang Rai, a province bordering Myanmar.
In response to the crisis, the Ministry of Public Health has mobilized medical personnel, volunteers, and rescue teams to assist vulnerable populations, especially the elderly, by relocating them to safer areas.
Meanwhile, the Thai Meteorological Department has issued further warnings about more heavy rainfall expected through next Tuesday, heightening the risk of additional flash floods. “From September 13-17, we urge everyone to be cautious of the potential dangers caused by heavy to very heavy rainfall,” the department advised in a statement.
Though Thailand is accustomed to annual monsoon rains, experts point to human-induced climate change as a factor contributing to increasingly severe weather events, which in turn lead to more frequent and destructive floods.
Since the beginning of this year’s rainy season, a total of 29 people have lost their lives due to weather-related disasters, as reported by the country’s emergency operation center.
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