Floodwaters Engulf Uttaradit: Panic as Homes Disappear
Northern Thailand is in shock as the worst floods in eight decades devastate Uttaradit. More than 2,000 households are now underwater.
Single-storey homes vanish beneath the muddy torrent. Officials scramble to evacuate terrified residents, including bedridden patients and the elderly. “We’re working round the clock,” says a local rescue worker. “Every minute counts.”
Deluge Strikes Overnight: Waters Surge to Second Floors
It begins with a roar. Storm Bualoi lashes Uttaradit overnight, dumping relentless rain. By morning, flash floods rage through streams, canals, roads, and farmland.
Three districts—Nam Pat, Thong Saen Khan, and Tha Pla—are hardest hit. Eighteen villages across five subdistricts are swamped. In Nam Pat and Thong Saen Khan, the situation is dire. Water climbs relentlessly, swallowing rooftops of single-storey houses. In two-storey homes, the flood now laps at upper floors.
Evacuations Underway: Race Against Time
Uttaradit’s disaster office mobilises rescue teams and volunteers. Boats and emergency gear are rushed in. Special focus is on the most vulnerable—bedridden patients, the elderly, disabled residents, and riverside communities.
Floodwaters cut off the Nam Ang-Thong Saen Khan road, leaving small vehicles stranded. Many families flee to temporary shelters in Thong Saen Khan, clutching what little they can carry.
Heroic Rescue: 80-Year-Old Saved from Rising Waters
In Bo Thong village, disaster strikes fast. Raging currents trap elderly residents in their homes. Uttaradit MP Warut Siriwat teams up with Wat Mon Mai rescue volunteers. Their mission: save 80-year-old Namkhang Thiensawang and her grandchild as water surges into their house.
“It’s the first time in 80 years I’ve seen water this high,” Namkhang says, voice trembling. “In less than an hour, it nearly reached the second floor. I never thought it would get this bad. I waited until I had to call for help.”
Floods Linger: Danger Remains High
Though the rain eases, floodwaters still pour into low-lying areas—especially Thong Saen Khan, which now receives runoff from upstream. Water levels remain perilously high.
The provincial emergency centre keeps a close watch. More boats are readied for further evacuations. Food, supplies, and aid reach desperate families. Authorities urge all agencies to provide urgent help and warn drivers to check routes before braving flooded roads.
Mae Hong Son Tragedy: Landslide Kills Mother, Villages Cut Off
Elsewhere, disaster strikes Mae Hong Son. Heavy rain triggers a deadly landslide, burying a 38-year-old woman in her home. Flash floods from the Yuam River destroy houses, farmland, and bridges. Some villages are now completely isolated.
Mae Sariang, Muang, and Mae La Noi districts are inundated. Thirty-six villages across six subdistricts suffer. Local officials, soldiers, and volunteers set up emergency kitchens and rush aid to those stranded.
Phetchabun Overwhelmed: Over 1,000 Homes Flooded
In Phetchabun, flash floods hit Lom Sak and Lom Kao districts, submerging more than 1,000 homes. Reservoirs overflow. The highways department scrambles to repair damaged roads. Residents are urged to avoid waterlogged routes for their own safety.
Storm Bualoi’s Wrath: North Thailand on Edge
Authorities warn the danger isn’t over. The Thai Meteorological Department says Storm Bualoi, now a deep depression over northern Myanmar and Laos, continues to fuel heavy rain across northern and upper northeastern Thailand. High-risk provinces include Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Lampang, Phayao, Nan, Phrae, Uttaradit, Sukhothai, Loei, Nong Khai, Bueng Kan, and Udon Thani.
Conditions may improve after Thursday, but for now, the threat remains. Riverbanks crumble, highways close near Ton Sak Yai National Park and Sirikit Dam, and power lines topple.
United in Crisis: Communities Rally as Waters Rise
The scale of devastation from Storm Bualoi is staggering. Northern Thailand’s vulnerability to extreme weather is laid bare. Yet, the swift, coordinated rescue efforts show the power of community in the face of disaster.
Will the waters recede before more lives are lost? For thousands, the wait is agonising—and the danger far from over.
