Tropical Storm Kajiki Affects Thousands In Northern Thailand

By Kenny Teng

BANGKOK, Aug 30 (Bernama) -- Heavy rainfall from Tropical Storm Kajiki has unleashed floods and landslides across northern Thailand, leaving six people dead, three missing, and more than 8,000 displaced, authorities said on Saturday.

The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) said the disaster remains severe in four provinces, namely Chiang Mai, Mae Hong Son, Sukhothai, and Phitsanulok.

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“The disaster has hit nine districts, 27 sub-districts, and 98 villages, affecting 2,452 households and 8,365 people,” DDPM said in a statement on Saturday, adding that relief operations are ongoing.

DDPM said in Chiang Mai and Mae Hong Son, search operations for missing persons are still underway alongside relief and recovery efforts.

“Disaster-response machinery has been deployed, including a KA-32 disaster relief helicopter, which will today be used to airlift supplies into affected areas in Chiang Mai,” DDPM said.

On Friday, authorities said three people remain missing after flash floods and landslides in Chiang Mai’s Mae Chaem district. Six deaths have been recorded there since Thursday.

DDPM said machinery has been deployed to high-risk areas and emergency alerts will be issued if conditions worsen. Provincial authorities have also been instructed to continue relief work and accelerate recovery in safer areas.

Compensation for victims’ families and the injured will also be expedited, the statement read.

DDPM urged residents in at-risk areas to closely monitor official weather forecasts and warnings, and to strictly comply with instructions.

-- BERNAMA