Rescued Elephants Drown as Heavy Flooding Hits Thai Tourist Hub Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai, a popular tourist destination in Thailand, has been severely affected by its worst flooding in decades, resulting in the tragic drowning of two elephants and widespread disruption. The flooding has led to power outages and forced the evacuation of guests from hotels across the city.
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reports that 20 provinces across Thailand are experiencing flooding, with nine in the northern region, affecting 8,625 households. In Chiang Mai, flash floods have inundated the night market, hotels, and a renowned elephant sanctuary, which had to evacuate over 100 elephants and hundreds of other animals, including buffalo, pigs, horses, dogs, cats, and rabbits.
Rescuers attempted to guide elephants from the Elephant Nature Park to safety using a rope-marked path. However, the operation was hindered by strong currents and a lack of phone signal. The use of sedatives was considered but deemed too risky, as it could cause the elephants' trunks to submerge in the high waters. Unfortunately, two female elephants, Faa Sai and Ploy Thong, drowned.
Saengduean Chailert, director of the sanctuary, described the floods as the worst the center had ever experienced, with water levels reaching three meters and sweeping away vehicles and destroying the medical room. Ploy Thong, a blind elephant rescued from an elephant riding camp in Pattaya in 2018, was swept away by the current after losing her herd. Faa Sai, rescued in 2007 and known for her aggressive behavior due to past trauma, ventured too close to the river and was also taken by the current.
Northern Thailand and neighboring countries have been hit by severe floods in recent weeks, exacerbated by Typhoon Yagi last month, which intensified the seasonal monsoon rains. The Ping River in Chiang Mai rose to a record 5.3 meters, the highest in 50 years, according to the Bangkok Post.
In Chiang Mai, the floods have inundated the popular night market, and large trucks have been used to evacuate tourists from affected areas. Social media images show monks from the Pa Paeng Temple in Muang district wading through shoulder-level muddy waters, carrying coffins above their heads due to power cuts affecting mortuary refrigeration. Power outages have impacted downtown Chiang Mai, leading to the closure of the train station and some hospitals.
While waters have begun to recede, several key roads remain closed, and many homes are still isolated by the floodwaters. The floods have claimed three lives in Chiang Mai, including a man who was electrocuted and a woman who died in a mudslide.
Bangkok and central provinces have been warned of potential flooding due to rising water levels in the Chao Phraya River. Residents in parts of Nonthaburi, bordering Bangkok, have been advised to move belongings to higher ground and use sandbags to protect their homes. The situation underscores the urgent need for continued vigilance and support for affected communities.
