Additional heavy rainfall expected ahead
Heavy Rain and Flooding Hit Northern Thailand
Thailand is currently experiencing heavy rain and flooding in several regions, particularly in the North and Northeast, due to ongoing monsoon conditions and a low-pressure area formed from Tropical Storm Kajiki.
In Mae Hong Son, residents in Ban Pha Bong Tai are being assisted by police and rescuers as flash floods caused by runoff from Pha Bong mountain have affected the area. More than 50 residents from Ban Pang Ung are staying at a shelter to escape the risk of further landslides. The Mae Chaem district office in Chiang Mai evacuated residents from Ban Pang Ung due to a landslide, and authorities are searching for five residents reported missing after the incident.
Parts of the North and Northeast regions are already inundated with rain, and additional downpours are forecast for the period from Sunday to Wednesday. The Royal Irrigation Department's Smart Water Operation Centre (SWOC) is closely monitoring the situation in the North, and the Ping, Yom, and Nan river basins are receiving additional rain due to the heavy downpours in the North.
The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) has issued a warning of heavy rainfall across Thailand from Sunday to Wednesday. According to the TMD, the rate of rain is predicted to jump to between 60 and 80% until Wednesday. The warning is due to ongoing monsoon conditions resulting from Tropical Storm Kajiki, and the monsoon trough will turn into a severe low-pressure area over the South China Sea, intensifying the southwestern monsoon over the coast from Sunday to Wednesday.
The TMD posted a warning on its Facebook account, citing a report from the 15-day rain chart by the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). The ECMWF report predicts continuous downpours for the next seven days in Thailand.
Roughly half of Bangkok and its neighboring provinces have experienced rain until today. The low-pressure area over the upper part of the country and the monsoon trough moving through the northeastern region and the Central Plains will cause downpours from Thursday to next Friday.
In addition to the flooding and landslides, a landslide in Moo 1 and Moo 18 of Mae Chaem district killed four people and damaged at least eight houses.
Residents in affected areas are advised to stay indoors and follow the instructions of local authorities. The TMD urges everyone to be cautious and to check for updates on its website or social media accounts.
