More Floods in Chiang Mai Area.

[Khun Don]

CHIANG MAI
More floods hit homes near the Night Safari park

Mae Hia residents forced to scramble to safety for second time in two weeks

Dozens of Chiang Mai residents had to scramble out of their windows to escape raging flash floods yesterday that ravaged their hometown for the second time this month.

"With the water rushing in so furiously, it's impossible to open the door out to get out because the torrent was pushing in," one flood victim said.

About 30 houses along the Mae Hia waterway were submerged under as much as 1.2m of floodwater for more than four hours early yesterday morning.

Backhoes were immediately brought in to enlarge the waterway, allowing the water to flow more easily. The situation had returned to normal by 8am, but significant property damage was reported.

"The floods damaged hundreds of electrical appliances. A lot of vehicles also broke down after being submerged for too long," Tanawat Yodjai, the chairman of the Mae Hia Tambon Administrative Organisation, said.

He said run-off water from Doi Suthep and Doi Kham had caused the flash floods. With the vast boundaries of the Chiang Mai Night Safari and the International Horticultural Exhibition sealed against floods, running rainwater caused by a heavy downpour could only go down the Mae Hia waterway.

"The waterway is also shallower because of encroachment," Tanawat said.

He said his organisation had received Bt10 million from the government to dredge the Mae Hia waterway and build embankments. He said the funds would be spent only on critical areas because it would take up to Bt54 million to construct an embankment along one 6km stretch of the waterway.

A landslide temporarily blocked the route to Wat Phra That Doi Suthep early yesterday. However, officials had cleared the road by 8am.

In the northern province of Lampang, more than 150 houses in Hang Chat district were flooded. Some bridges were also damaged.

"We have to repair the bridges otherwise many students won't be able to get their schools," Ban Mae Tan Noi village head Teerawat Sriwanchai said. The flood had subsided by the afternoon.

Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department said heavy downpours would continue in the North and Northeast. The department urged people in Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Lampang, Nan, Phrae, Uttaradit, Sukhothai, Phitsanulok, Phetchabun, Nong Khai, Udon Thani, Sakon Nakhon, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Maha Sarakham, Roi Et, Yasothon, Si Sa Ket, Amnat Charoen and Ubon Ratchathani to brace for possible flash floods.

The Nation.

[billk]

Sure it's raining a bit here in Chiang Mai. It's refreshing!

[FaranginPhetch]

I just went to CM and got my new visa wednesday and no sign of any flooding where I went, easiest time I have had yet in getting my renewal.
But CM is so tore up and crowded that I didn't do any shopping other than just at Tesco by the river crossing and then came home,,Be damned if I will fight the traffic and pollution for a few books.

Far as I am concerned you can have the new Chiang Mai and every thing in it.

[Betti]

my colleagues' homes were flooded this Tuesday (they live near Doi Suthep, within A. Muang Chiang Mai - they have flash floods there are the time). the situation is pretty miserable after each and every thunderstorm in the mountains. just because the city is dry now, it doesn't mean the floods are not a problem.
well, I have no idea what sort of traffic jam you bumped into on the highway (from your Hyway hotel all the way to the immigration).

[FaranginPhetch]

Just the normal traffic jams where they built a super highway that they were so proud of and then tore it up for miles to put in undercrossings that will be flooded all during the monsoon season,
But had no problem with getting to immigration as I am smart enough that we went directly from the super over to the airport on our way into town, so had my visa before we really got into CM proper.
But all the increased traffic down to the gate from the super on all surface streets, as well as the tore up super is what makes it bad,

And Betti, you will please notice that I said,

I just went to CM and got my new visa wednesday and no sign of any flooding where I went, easiest time I have had yet in getting my renewal.

And I do know of flooding causing problems, I have a home here and we have had water in our house before.

[billk]

Went to Wiang Kum Kam today and got to cycle along some pretty hairy roads before I got to the lovely roads around WKK so I hear what you're saying FiP. Chiang Mai would be just about perfect if it wasn't for the traffic. Crossing the roads here is a kind of meditation on impermanence, though it's not quite as terrifying as Bangkok.

[FaranginPhetch]

Yea Bill, In the last 5 or 6 years CM has gotten a lot worse, seems like at least double the cars and other traffic, especially at rush hours, I used to come in to MacCormack hospital from San Sai at 7 am and at 1800 almost daily and it was crowded but not the gridlock that is there now.

[Khun Don]

Went to Wiang Kum Kam today and got to cycle along some pretty hairy roads before I got to the lovely roads around WKK so I hear what you're saying FiP. Chiang Mai would be just about perfect if it wasn't for the traffic. Crossing the roads here is a kind of meditation on impermanence, though it's not quite as terrifying as Bangkok.

The roads surrounding the old city moat, Kotchsarn, Rat Chiengsan etc are just as bad as Bangkok in my opinion. 10 years ago you could saunter across the roads here, now you gamble with your life everytime you cross them-thats if you don't suffocate from the traffic fumes first !

[Betti]

trouble is, no signs of decent public transport. and even if there was, nothing will beat filling up your motorcycle (100 baht) once every 7 or 10 days and using that to crisscross all the way to work.
as for crossing, since traffic lights were installed, it's been much easier (eg. around the moat at Thapae gate, Somphet market, Changphueak gate), but still you must be really careful.

[Betti]

there were 30 hours of constant heavy rain starting Wednesday night, today was sunny, but it didn't help, parts of Mae Rim, Saraphi, Hang Dong are flooded, as well as the southern section of Changklan Road almost up to the night bazaar. part of the city wall at Chang Phueak Gate collapsed yesterday. it is raining again tonight, but not so heavily. we'll see tomorrow.