Farmer swept away by floodwaters found dead in northern Thailand

A Thai farmer attempting to inspect floodwaters in his fields was swept away by a strong current, disappearing before the eyes of local villagers. After an extensive search, his body was found, though his motorcycle remains missing.

Police officer Piyapan Piansaad received a report yesterday, September 3, at 11am about a man swept away by floodwaters near the Mae Sanga River in the Na Pa Paek area, in the Mae Hong Son province. The incident occurred in the village of Na Pa Paek, approximately 1 kilometre from the main village.

Upon receiving the report, Piyapan, along with Police Lieutenant Surachit Laojamroon, investigators, and emergency relief officials, rushed to the scene. They arrived to find villagers already diving into the river, searching for the missing man and his Honda Dream motorcycle.

The search did not take long. The man’s body was found submerged roughly 700 metres from where he had disappeared. The deceased was identified as Ta, a 60 year old resident of Na Pa Paek and a member of the Tai Yai ethnic group. His body was retrieved for a post-mortem examination but the motorcycle could not be located.

Investigations revealed that around 9am that same day, Ta had left his home alone on his Honda Dream motorcycle to check for flooding in his fields. Upon reaching the river, he attempted to cross despite the strong current. The powerful water swept both Ta and his motorcycle away.

Witnesses saw the incident but were unable to help due to the swift and dangerous current. Villagers then gathered to search for his body, eventually finding it 700 metres downstream. Ta’s relatives have accepted the cause of death and will proceed with religious funeral rites, reported KhaoSod.

The flooding situation in Mae Hong Son province remains critical. Continuous rainfall has led to prolonged flooding in rice fields in Ban Kung Mai Sak, Pang Mu subdistrict, for over four weeks.

The stagnant water has caused widespread damage to rice crops, leading to significant agricultural losses. Additionally, saturated mountain soils have triggered landslides in several villages, particularly those near the provincial border.