The famous temple city of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand was on Thursday submerged in many places following a night of torrential rain.
The Ping River burst its banks and reached its highest level in 13 years, the Bangkok Post newspaper reported, citing the administration of the picturesque city, which is also known as the Rose of the North.
The floods caused chaos in the centre of Chiang Mai, including the famous night bazaar, the report said, with the water level rising by up to 1 metre in some locations.
The tourist police warned holidaymakers about the danger and provided a number for emergencies. Authorities also announced help for tourists stranded in their hotels by the high waters.
Hospitals were also affected and announced that they would only be accepting emergency patients until Monday. Residents were urged to take their belongings to safety.
Meanwhile, the masses of water were moving towards Chiang Mai railway station. The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) plans to suspend some train services for the time being.
The rainy season still prevails in large parts of South-East Asia, and this year it has been particularly heavy in the north. earlier in September, days of heavy rain caused severe flooding, especially in the equally popular province of Chiang Rai on the border with Myanmar and Laos.
The temple city of Chiang Mai, with its historic old town and many sights, is considered one of the country’s most beautiful showpieces.
However, it often makes negative headlines. Between January and April, Chiang Mai regularly takes first place on the list of cities with the highest air pollution in the world. This is mainly because farmers throughout the region burn stubble at the end of the dry season.
