In a series of punishing weather events, Loei, a northeastern province in Thailand, has been battling substantial flooding as a result of unyielding rainfall over the past several days. The devastating floodwaters have left in their wake submerged homes, inundated agricultural lands, and damaged government buildings, in addition to turning a central sports field into a virtual lake. The extraordinary volume of continuous rainfall has caused numerous tributaries to exceed their capacity with the mightily roaring Loei River, the principal aqua-jugular vein of the province, spilling over its banks.
Although recent reports indicate a receding of water levels in the Loei River in specific regions such as Phu Luang, Wang Saphung districts, and the municipal district of Loei, floodwaters continue to wreak havoc, more so in low-lying areas swept by torrential flows neighboring the river banks, primarily in the Chaiyaphruek region in the central Loei district. Communities such as Kaeng Pla, Na Bon, and a myriad of other residential pockets have been worst hit with more than 60 residences submerged. This has rendered the local infrastructure inaccessible and resulted in unavoidable, irreparable damage to agricultural lands due to the devastating force of the Loei’s floodwaters.
In a timely response to this natural disaster, the local government body, the Chaiyaphruek Subdistrict Municipality, mobilized its officials to provide immediate relief to the affected residents by distributing boxed meals and emergency survival kits, and to conduct an on-ground damage assessment.
Simultaneously, the provincial government of Loei has alerted residents of Tha That and Pak Tom subdistricts in the Chiang Khan district to preemptively safeguard their personal belongings by relocating them to safer, elevated locations. This is in anticipation of the mass of water expected from the Loei River before it flows downstream to the Mekong River, as reported by KhaoSod.
Elsewhere in the region, the Phayao province too was hit by ensuing torrential rains, resulting in a havoc which impacted around 100 households and led to extensive damage across areas. The relentless rainfall, consistent throughout the day and night, led to water overflowing from the surrounding woods and pouring indiscriminately into the Mae Tam River. As a direct consequence, homes, roads, and farm lands in the region have been submerged, causing an unfortunate setback to the local lives and livelihoods.
The popular and usually bustling tourist hotspot, the Phuwua Wildlife Sanctuary, witnessed an unforeseen and hasty evacuation. An unexpected heavy downpour led to a flash flood alert. Water flooded down from the Phuwua mountains, prompting tourists at the grand Tham Phra Waterfall to make a swift move to safer, higher ground.
These relentless, cascading events shed light on the unpredictable nature of the weather and the quicksilver progressions of climate-change related disasters. Being aware and staying informed in such trying times has never been more critical. For ongoing developments in Thailand and elsewhere, head to our Facebook page for more news and adaptations to an ever-changing landscape.
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