Chiang Mai’s disaster command centre met today (3rd September) to prepare for heavy to very heavy rain expected across the north from the 4th to the 7th, driven by a monsoon trough combined with the southwest monsoon over the Andaman Sea, Thailand and the Gulf of Thailand.
Key points from the meeting, chaired by deputy governor Siwakorn Buapong:
- River levels are currently falling but flash floods and mudslides remain a risk, especially near foothills and waterways
- Omkoi district shows the highest soil moisture reading at 249mm, raising landslide risk there
- Pumps have been installed in at-risk areas and rescue teams are on standby
- Areas without phone signal or Cell Broadcast access are told to use loudspeakers or transistor radios for warnings, and district officers have been told to flag weak-signal zones to telecom providers
- Local authorities are training residents to use rain gauges to help track and report rainfall quickly
Residents in risk areas are advised to avoid riverbanks, foothills and known landslide routes, and to follow official guidance closely over the coming days.
