Chiang Mai Floods 2024: Devastating Impact on Ping River and Elephant Nature Park

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In a turn of calamitous events, the city of Chiang Mai found itself battling against the rising fury of nature when the majestic Ping River swelled to an unprecedented 5.3 meters. Saturday morning painted a grim picture with motorcycles languishing in floodwater outside the local bus terminal. The Public Relations Office Region 3 in Chiang Mai captured the scenes reflecting the encroaching waters’ severity.

This dramatic surge marked a shattering of previous records, in place for half a century. The river, a familiar feature of Chiang Mai’s landscape, had become an unforeseen adversary, cutting through the city and inundating large sections with relentless ferocity. Areas such as the bustling business district on Chang Khan Road, alongside the Night Bazaar, found themselves submerged beneath waters reaching up to a meter. Shops, many still recuperating from the previous flood of September 26, were forced to shutter once more—economic recovery stalled at the mercy of the rising tides.

As the floodwaters breached widely, officials hurriedly began evacuating tourists from the submerged areas to higher altitudes, prioritizing safety in the wake of this aquatic assault. Some hotels, determined to retain normalcy, continued housing guests, nurturing a sturdiness under trying circumstances.

Meanwhile, in Mae Taeng District, nature dealt a cruel hand at the Elephant Nature Park, renowned for its dedication to the protection and rehabilitation of elephants. The destructive waters swept away two cherished residents. Phang Fah Sai, a female pachyderm, was discovered lifeless near the Sibsan Resort, while suspicions lingered over a second elephant, Plang Mae Khor, who had faced life’s challenges with a handicap but now faced a watery end. The staff was still working to confirm her identity positively.

Saengduean Chailert, the visionary founder of the Elephant Nature Park, shared her anguish over the dire situation via Facebook. “Friday was a day of darkness and gloom for our sanctuary,” she lamented. Despite proactive efforts to usher elephants to higher ground as forewarnings came through on Thursday, the entire elephant village was engulfed by unyielding floodwaters.

Ms. Saengduean painted a poignant scene, “Our elephants remain unchained, living within their enclosures, yet the waters rose ruthless and unforgiving, surpassing protective fences and lapping at the roofs.” She recounted witnessing with utter helplessness as precious animals were swept along the fierce currents—among them, the blind Mae Ploydaeng and Plang Mae Meeboon.

From the park, many cattle, including cows and buffaloes, also went unaccounted for in the aftermath, although fortuitously, the feline and canine inhabitants were safely evacuated. Yet, the floods washed away their shelters, leaving them in dire need of essentials.

Amid the heartbreak, Ms. Saengduean acknowledged the immense outpouring of support. She expressed heartfelt gratitude for the efforts of rescue workers, volunteers, and governmental bodies, thanking other elephant camps whose mahouts converged to help manage the pachyderm onslaught in turbulent waters. Amidst her heartbreak, she appealed for assistance to evacuate 23 blind and elderly horses, and sought cloth donations to provide for the multitude of stranded dogs and cats.

The Elephant Nature Park, a beacon of animal conservation, now seeks not just to recover but to restore its mission of care and healing. This sanctuary exemplifies compassion and tenacity—a reminder of the unpredictable interplay between nature’s majesty and its monstrous upheavals.