The water level in the Ping River rose to a peak of 4.93m at 3am this morning, surpassing the 4.9m recorded in 2011. Overflows have inundated wide areas of downtown Chiang Mai, including the famous Night Bazaar.
Chiang Mai Governor Nirat Pongsitthithavorn said today that the new record level did not reach the anticipated 5m and is now reducing. It was at 4.83m at 8am.
He also said that, if the level drops to 4.3m, floodwater in the Mueang district will recede rapidly, as they flow into Zone 7, which is the border of the Mueang district.
Zone 7 contains the railway station, the Palm Spring housing estate, Chaoroen Mueang and Kaew Nawarat roads, Kard Luang and Kard Mueang Mai.
The Night Bazaar has been flooded since last evening, as was the Lanna Hospital, requiring them to advise non-emergency patients to postpone their appointments until end of the month.
The governor said that he has instructed all municipalities and sub-district administrative organisations to prepare food and drinking water, to be sent to flood victims upon request, and to arrange for evacuation shelters for evacuees, especially bed-stricken patients and the elderly.
He confirmed that the flooding in downtown Chiang Mai was not caused by the discharge of excess water from Mae Ngad reservoir, but by continuous heavy rainfall since last Saturday.
Numerous schools have suspended classes today and tomorrow, while others are closed for long the holidays for the end of the first semester.
In the Chao Phraya river basin, it is reported that the flow of water through the Chao Phraya Dam in Chainat province is 1,498m3/s and this may threaten riverside communities, particular those unprotected by embankments in Ang Thong and Ayutthaya provinces.
