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Authorities ordered some evacuations and said they were working
to pump water out of residential areas and clear obstructions
from waterways and drains to help water recede faster.
Dozens of shelters were set up across the city to accommodate
residents whose home were flooded. The Chiang Mai city
government said the water level of the Ping River, which runs
along the eastern edge of the city, was at critically high
levels and was rising since Friday.
However, the provincial irrigation office on Saturday forecast
that the water level was likely to remain stable and recede to
normal in about five days.
Thai media reported that efforts to evacuate elephants and other
animals from several sanctuaries and parks on the outskirts of
the city were continuing Saturday. About 125 elephants along
with other animals were taken to safety from the Elephant Nature
Park, from where some escaped on their own to seek higher
ground. About 10 animal shelters in the area have been flooded.
Chiang Mai Gov. Nirat Pongsitthavorn said that the latest
flooding, the second in six weeks, exceeded expectations.
Thailand's state railway suspended service to Chiang Mai, with
trains on the northern line from Bangkok terminating at Lampang,
about 1 1/2 hours ride to the south. Chiang Mai International
Airport said it was operating as usual on Saturday.
Flooding was reported in 20 Thai provinces on Saturday, mostly
in the north. At least 49 people have died and 28 were injured
in floods since August, the Department of Disaster Prevention
and Mitigation said.
In the Thai capital Bangkok, the government said Saturday it
will let more water flow out of the Chao Phraya Dam in the
central province of Chai Nat over the next seven days, as it
risks exceeding it capacity. The release of the water may affect
residents downstream who live near waterways in Thailand’s
central region, including Bangkok and surrounding areas.
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