Two Dead as Severe Flash Floods Inundate Northern Thailand's Nan Province

NAN, Aug 20 (TNA) - Flash floods in Thailand's northern Nan province have left two people dead and affected thousands of households, with runoff moving downstream toward central districts, authorities said.

The fatalities include a bedridden patient in Pua district and an unidentified man in Tha Wang Pha district, according to local officials.

Continuous heavy rainfall triggered torrents that swept through four districts—Pua, Tha Wang Pha, Santi Suk, and Mae Charim. Pua was hardest hit, with floodwaters inundating 60 villages, impacting more than 8,000 households.

Military personnel, police, and rescue teams deployed rescue boats and field kitchens to evacuate stranded residents. Border patrol officers used specialized tactics to rescue three residents—a man, a woman, and a child—trapped by fast-moving water in Pua, while rescue workers deployed drones to survey the area and communicate with residents, aiming to minimize risks to personnel.

The Royal Irrigation Department reported that flood runoff from Pua is moving downstream toward other districts. Authorities are closely monitoring water levels at key observation stations in Mueang Nan.

While floodwaters have begun receding in upper areas like Pua, leaving behind thick layers of mud, debris, and damaged vehicles, downstream communities remain on alert. Officials noted that runoff will eventually flow into the Sirikit Dam in neighboring Uttaradit province, which currently operates at 65% capacity and retains sufficient storage space to absorb incoming water. -819 (TNA)