Thailand’s northern capital Chiang Mai is bracing for a repeat of the devastating flooding that drowned the city in August 2005.
Following heavy rains further north, and the flooding of the Mae Tawan Valley and it’s world famous Elephant Conservation Camp, plus large areas of Chiang Dao district are reported as underwater today, with a storm surge racing down the River Ping towards the metropolitan area.
The surge passed through San Sai District, with waters peaking at 4pm and 5pm this afternoon, and is expected to hit Chiang Mai at around 11pm this evening (28 September).
Chiang Mai Mayor Tassanai Buranupakorn issued a flood emergency warning this afternoon, with an orange alert at city-centre Nawarat Bridge, and has personally been manning the emergency call centre, answering and returning calls from the public according to reports. The municipal authorities began preparations for floodwaters that could reach 3.7m and 3.8m between 11pm and midnight. Sandbags are being issued to the public at Ban Den cemetery near the Gymkhana Club in Nong Hoi, in the southeastern quadrant of the city, and from the Mengrai Bridge area, Kawila Barracks, and Nakornping Area Office.
Chiang Mai Mae Kha kong Aug 2005 floods, ThailandI reported on the floods of 2005 here on the Expat Eye, and thankfully, so far, there have not been any reports of fatalities and injuries upstream – 2005 resulted in high casualties as reported in the linked article.
Chiangmai City lies in an alluvial basin, surrounded to the west, north, and east, by mountains. Major and minor rivers feed both reservoirs uphill of the city, and the main River Ping itself. From Chiang Mai, the Ping flows south to join the Chao Phraya, which runs through Bangkok, before reaching the coast 700 km south of the northern city.
2005?s floods were attributed to incorrect opening of dam sluice gates on a major reservoir, at the same time as a similar storm surge was travelling down the tributaries to the River Ping, resulting in a co-joined surge that inundated the city. Officially the blame was laid on the ethnic minority semi-stateless hill tribe peoples for practising slash and burn farming in the upland forests – allegations vehemently denied by all concerned with the hill tribe peoples.
Worryingly, there has been at least one report that officials plan to relieve water levels in a reservoir by opening a dam’s sluice gates, yielding potential for a more accurate repeat of 2005?s disaster. Chiang Mai Mayor Tassanai Buranupakorn is quoted as saying to Citylife Magazine (Chiang Mai), “We are doing our best to see how we can prevent this, by channelling off water to other waterways and attempting to control the onslaught.” according to Citylife editor Pim Kemasingki.
from:
http://www.gazlannathai.com
