6 dead, 2 missing as Typhoon Yagi hits the North

By AFP -published by CNA and Amarin TV

TORRENTIAL rain brought on by Typhoon Yagi that led to Mae Ai river in Chiang Mai overflowing its banks triggering landslides and flash floods has killed four people with two others missing while two more flood victims died in Chiang Rai,

The latest update at 10.30 a.m. by Mae Ai landslide command centre said around 2,000 people in Ban Doi Laem, Doi Lang, Pang Ton Duea, Pang Saen Kluea villages in Mae Ai district have been completely cut off by landslides.

Soldiers from Pha Muang task force, Border Patrol Police, rangers and officials from other agencies have split up into two groups to upon up two roads and reach them.

A four-year-old boy was found dead today and it was confirmed that a five-month-old baby girl found earlier had also died with the other two fatalities being two women. Three victims have been injured and search continues for two more missing persons.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra said aid is on the way to around 9,000 families hit by the floods in the northern provinces of Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai

The health ministry said they have deployed medical staff, volunteers and rescue workers to migrate elder people to safer places.

The Thai meteorological department also warned that more heavy rains were expected until next Tuesday, bringing the risk of fresh flash floods.

“Between Sep. 13 to 17, please be careful of possible danger caused by heavy to very heavy rainfall,” it said in a statement.

While Thailand experiences annual monsoon rains, man-made climate change is causing more intense weather patterns that can make destructive floods more likely.

A total of 29 people have been killed from heavy rain-related disasters since the start of the season, according to the kingdom’s emergency operation centre.

CAPTON:

Above and Front Page: Severe landslides in Chiang Mai’s Mae Ai district. Photos: Amarin TV

Below: Heavy flooding in Chiang Rai last night. Photos: Thai Rath