Phayao flooded as tropical storm Wipha reaches the North

By Amarin TV and Thai Newsroom

TROPICAL storm Wipha which is moving along a monsoon trough covering upper Laos and upper North unleashed torrential rain and floods in Phayao province with Chiang Kham Hospital having to change the traffic route last night, Amarin TV said this morning (July 23).

Several districts of this northern province are flooded especially Chiang Kham district where floodwater is overflowing from bridges onto roads after it rained continuously since last night.

Torrential rain is still lashing the province with the Ing river overflowing its banks and flooding many roads and houses in low-lying areas.

Orchards and farms across several districts are now flooded as heavy rain persists.

The Thai Meteorological Department said tropical storm Wipha was downgraded to a tropical depression at 1 a.m. this morning and at 4 a.m. it was centred at Xiangkhouang province, Laos, with maximum sustained winds of about 55 km./hr. This storm, which is moving west-northwesterly direction at a speed of 25 km/hr, is forecast to downgrade to a low-pressure cell.

Meanwhile a strong southwesterly monsoon prevails across the Andaman Sea, Thailand and Gulf of Thailand.

Wipha will bring heavy to heavy rain and strong winds to the North, Northeast, western part of the Central region and the East during July 23-24. People should beware of heavy rainstorms that may trigger flash floods and lead to waterways near foothills and lowlands overflowing.

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Phayao has been flooded since last night. Photos: Chiang Kham Hospital and Phayao Provincial Public Relations Office webpages – published by Amarin TV