Published on September 11, 2005

A new round of flash-floods and landslides yesterday swept through some districts of Chiang Mai and other northern provinces while weather forecasts warned of heavy rains and flooding in the North and Northeast.

The sudden flows of water uprooted many large trees on the Chiang Mai-Fang highway. A tree fell on a van carrying students and researchers from Japan’s Kyoto University. Passengers Tadahigo Shintani, 58, Atsushi Yamada, 28, and Yinyinme, a 40-year-old Burmese national studying at Kyoto University, were injured and sent to McCormick Hospital in Chiang Mai’s Muang district. Their injuries were minor, and they were reportedly out of danger at press time.

In Mae Moh district, Lampang province, more than 100 homes in three villages were inundated by about 100 metres of flood water. The provincial governor and rescue workers rushed to the scene to provide assistance. The water level in some areas later receded to about 50 centimetres.

Provincial officials also evacuated villagers from other districts, including Mae Ta, and moved their poultry and cattle to higher ground.

In Payao province, Kwan Payao, the province’s largest freshwater lake, usually 392.4 metres deep, has risen to 392.9 metres.

The Meteorological Department yesterday warned people in the North and Northeast to beware of flash-floods and landslides over the next few days.

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