Storms wreak havoc across Chiang Mai

Storms over the past few days have wreaked havoc across several parts of Omkoi district and areas in Muang district of Chiang Mai with forecasters saying there will be no let-up in the bad weather for the next few days.

Omkoi district appeared to have suffered the worst as of yesterday morning with several tambons struggling to deal with landslides, floods, damaged roads and blackouts.

Suthat Shiloi, head of the Gino watershed creek management unit in Omkoi, said students at several schools in the district were yesterday left without lunch and teachers.

The teachers had gone to shop for ingredients for lunch but were unable to return to their schools after the main roads connecting this highland district with the city zone of the province became impassable.

Several large trees fell onto the roads blocking them, said Mr Suthat.

Stormy weather has lingered in several parts of Chiang Mai, especially in Omkoi district, over the past few days, said Phairin Limcharoen, head of the provincial disaster prevention and mitigation office.

As of yesterday morning, water levels in several rivers were continuing to rise as reports of electricity poles being downed, roads and bridges damaged and floods came pouring in, he said.

Affected residents were warned to closely monitor weather updates by local officials, while the province made ready to implement evacuation plans if that becomes necessary, said a source.

The Northern Meteorological Centre said that heavy rain would continue until the end of the week and between 40% and 60% of the North would be affected by extreme weather conditions.

Fallen trees and electricity poles were also reported on a section of Wat Phra That Doi Suthep Road in Muang district.

In Tak province, torrential rain was also reported in several areas resulting in high water levels in the Moei River, the main waterway in the province.