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Bangkok Post
12 hours ago
- Climate
- Bangkok Post
Rising river levels trigger flood alerts
Flood warnings have been issued as river levels have surged rapidly in some northern provinces, with a Cell Broadcast (CB) alert sounded as water rose quickly on the Kok River. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) issued a CB alert to residents in low-lying areas along the Kok River in Chiang Rai province, warning them to move belongings to higher ground and take care of vulnerable groups, including the elderly and bedridden patients. The alert follows a continued rise in river levels, with potential flooding expected around 6pm Wednesday in tambons Huai Chomphu, Mae Yao, Doi Hang, Wiang and Rim Kok, and other areas within Chiang Rai municipality. The municipality posted an update on Facebook detailing a preparedness meeting earlier in the day. Water levels at Nawang Bridge–Tha Ton Station stood at 6.91 metres, or 0.41m above the riverbank, with stable flow rates. At King Mengrai Bridge Station, the current flow reached 611.20 m³/second, just 0.18 m³/s below the bank level, with forecasts indicating levels could rise to 6.20–6.50m by evening, potentially flooding riverside zones and low-lying urban areas in Chiang Rai. Also Tuesday, officials in Mae Hong Son reported that the Pai River, a key waterway, had surged past crisis levels. Floodwaters have begun affecting farmland in tambons Pang Mu and Pha Bong although evacuations are not yet required. The flooding in Mae Hong Son is attributed to heavy rainfall in upstream Pai district, which has accumulated in recent weeks. This year's rainfall exceeds seasonal averages, partly due to remnants of storm Wipha, compounding earlier persistent rainfall that has inundated homes and farmlands along the Pai River. In the northeastern province of Nakhon Phanom, the Mekong River continued its rapid rise, reaching 11.3m Tuesday morning -- just 66cm below the 12m critical level. The river has overflowed onto Sawan Chai Khong Road, flooding over 5km behind the local highway office. Businesses along the river have begun moving goods to prevent losses as floodwaters reach storefronts. Meteorological reports forecast 70% thunderstorm coverage across the province, with heavy to very heavy rain in isolated areas. Nakhon Phanom's rainfall peaked at 54mm in Muang district. In Nan, several days of persistent rainfall have triggered flash floods and road collapses in Chalerm Prakiat district. Social media images posted by "Kon Lanna" show road sections completely washed away, posing severe risks to motorists. Sukrit Koetsang, director of the Northern Meteorological Centre, warned of persistent heavy rain in the upper North, although rainfall intensity is set to subside as the monsoon trough shifts northward. However, the risk of landslides and flash flooding remains, especially in hilly areas, low-lying zones, and near riverbanks. Meanwhile, Deputy Interior Minister Theerarat Samrejvanich chaired an emergency meeting Tuesday to coordinate flood and landslide response operations triggered by tropical storm Wipha. She instructed provincial authorities to accelerate aid to affected residents and prioritise the protection of critical infrastructure, including hospitals, communities, and economic hubs.
Bangkok Post
6 days ago
- Climate
- Bangkok Post
Flooding remains in North
Many areas in the northern provinces of Nan, Phayao and Chiang Rai are still affected by flooding as persistent rain is expected to continue throughout Thursday. The Meteorological Department reported that Wipha weakened from a tropical storm into a depression on Wednesday and is expected to downgrade further as a low-pressure system, moving along the monsoon trough in northern Thailand, upper Laos and Myanmar on Friday and Saturday. In Nan, governor Chainarong Yongwai said this was the most severe flooding in 47 years. All 15 districts in the province were flooded. Rainfall records on Thursday showed districts in the upper part had over 300 millimetres of accumulation, such as Bo Kluea, Tha Wang Pha, Pua and Chiang Klang. The major measuring gauge in Tha Wang Pha recorded water at 14.51 metres, decreasing by five centimetres per hour. Water in Muang district was measured at 9.43m and increasing by 2cm per hour. The internet signal in Muang district was unavailable due to electricity cuts to prevent dangers to the public. Mobile internet vehicles were deployed to assist residents. Helicopters from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation were operating to help affected households. Rain is expected to continue pouring across Nan until Thursday night. Although water levels might decrease, flooding will expand to more areas, Mr Chainarong said. He advised residents in unflooded areas to stay alert. In Chiang Rai, flooding mainly affected Thoeng district, with water levels higher than Wednesday, affecting several premises, according to the provincial public relations office. Several roads were damaged by floods and landslides, with some closed to motorists. In Phayao, eight districts were flooded, affecting over 1,700 households, according to governor Ratthaphon Naradisorn, who was speaking at a war room meeting with the Interior Ministry. The main rivers flowing into the province were the Yom River and Ing River, with persistent rain causing flooding along both rivers for over 50 kilometres. The water situation is expected to stabilise within two to three days, Mr Ratthaphon said. Chiang Kham Hospital was surrounded by about 50cm of floodwater, and patients were evacuated by military vehicles. The Ministry of Public Health reported that five hospitals were affected by flooding. They included Wiang Sa, Chiang Klang and Tha Wang Pha hospitals in Nan; Thoeng in Chiang Rai; and Chiang Kham in Phayao. The government had set up emergency centres in some affected areas, with mental health crisis teams on standby. The weather agency forecasted that 22 provinces across Thailand would experience more heavy rain on Thursday: In the North: Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lamphun, Lampang, Phrae, Sukhothai, Tak and Kamphaeng Phet
The Star
22-07-2025
- Climate
- The Star
Emergency alert system on standby as storm Wipha nears Thailand
BANGKOK: The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) director-general Passakorn Bunyalak said on Tuesday (July 22) that provincial units had been placed on the highest level of alert, with a central war room set up to monitor the tropical storm Wipha and assess disaster risks around the clock. According to the Thai Meteorological Department, Wipha is expected to make landfall in Vietnam on Wednesday before weakening into a tropical depression. Its influence is forecast to bring heavy rain and strong winds to the North, upper Northeast, and Central regions of Thailand from July 22–24.
Bangkok Post
07-07-2025
- Politics
- Bangkok Post
Andaman provinces to ramp up disaster planning
The governors of six provinces on the Andaman Sea coast have been ordered to boost their preparations for natural disasters, with Deputy Interior Minister Theerarat Samrejvanich saying that any inadequacies in their plans will not be tolerated. Ms Theerarat issued the directive after meeting the governors and officials from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM), the Department of Mineral Resources and the Meteorological Department in Bangkok to discuss earthquake and tsunami preparedness for the Andaman coastal region. She said the government has taken note of public concerns about the possibility of another tsunami, after recent reports about a series of earthquakes in the Indian and Pacific oceans. To ensure public safety, she said provinces located on the Andaman coast must allocate enough budget, human resources and equipment to help deal with the aftermath of a disaster. Evacuation routes and directions to shelters must also be regularly updated to reflect newer developments and clearly signposted, she said, before adding disaster preparedness drills must be routinely organised to help ensure local residents are ready when a disaster strikes. DDPM was also instructed to ensure its earthquake alert system is operational 24 hours a day, and that the system receives accurate information from seismographs in earthquake-prone areas. "Equipment deficiencies must not be used as an excuse to explain disaster alert failures," she said. The Public Relations Department, meanwhile, was instructed to ensure that the public gets the correct information in emergencies, which Ms Theerarat said is key to preventing panic, especially in disaster-prone areas. When asked about the recent earthquakes detected in waters off the coast of Thailand, Sumet Saithong, the deputy director of the Department of Mineral Resources, said the latest tremors were different from the one in 2004. "These quakes were minor and didn't displace much seawater," he said. DDPM director-general, Phasakorn Boonyalak, said overland quakes with a magnitude of 2.5 and over will trigger the department's alert system. Undersea quakes, meanwhile, will be picked up by the system if they have a magnitude of 5.0 or more. The nation's cell broadcast warning system will send out alerts for overland quakes measuring M4 and over, and M6 and over for submarine quakes, he noted.
Bangkok Post
30-06-2025
- Climate
- Bangkok Post
Landslide, flood warning for 17 Thai provinces
People in 17 provinces across four Thai regions are warned to be prepared for possible flash floods, landslides and forest runoff between Tuesday and Saturday, the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) reported on Monday. The Office of National Water Resources had been monitoring weather conditions since Saturday and found some parts of the country are at risk of disasters, expected between Tuesday and Saturday, July 5, DDPM director-general Passakorn Bunyalak said. Seventeen provinces were named in the announcement to be prepared for flash floods, landslides and forest runoff, including: Four provinces in the North: Chiang Rai, Phayao, Nan and Tak Nine provinces in the Northeast: Loei, Bueng Kan, Udon Thani, Roi Et, Yasothon, Surin, Si Sa Ket and Ubon Ratchathani. Two provinces in the Central region: Chanthaburi and Trat Two provinces in the South: Ranong and Phangnga Small to medium-sized reservoirs across the regions should be under close watch, said the DDPM. Water in the Ing River in Chiang Rai and the Mekong River was reportedly rising, with possible impacts on provinces along the rivers—Chiang Rai, Loei, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, Nakhon Phanom, Mukdahan, Amnat Charoen and Ubon Ratchathani. The Thai Meteorological Department (TMD) on Monday also forecast heavy to very heavy rain between Tuesday and Sunday, especially in the North and the Northeast, as a monsoon trough was passing through the upper parts of the two regions, exacerbated by a southwestern wind through the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand. Thunderstorms are expected to hit 60 to 70% of Bangkok and its outskirts, the TMD said.
