Landslides trap 400 in Mae Hong Son village, urgent aid needed

Over 400 residents in a hillside village in Mae Hong Son‘s Khun Yuam district urgently called for help as they awaited evacuation following several landslides. The main road leading into the village became impassable after heavy rain on Monday, leaving them stranded.

Phachat Chomchopdi, a resident, reached out to local government officials yesterday, August 13, reporting that while no injuries occurred, the villagers were in critical need of food and drinking water after two days of heavy rain triggered the landslides.

Mobile phone signals were lost when the landslides struck Mae Ko Pi village, damaging several houses and the local school from Monday to Tuesday. Chomchopdi explained that some villagers had to climb a nearby hill to get mobile signals and contact people for help.

Around 40 students evacuated from the local school on another hillside before a landslide damaged the building. They were left starving and had to wait for hours until their parents rescued them from the hilltop where they had taken refuge.

Torrential rain continued on yesterday morning, causing more landslides and prompting panic among the villagers. Urgent calls for assistance were made to local rescuers and soldiers for evacuation to a safer location.

Mae Hong Son Governor Chuchip Phongchai stated that the northern province has been experiencing heavy rain since Sunday, resulting in multiple flash floods and landslides in Khun Yuam, Pang Ma Pha, Muang Mae Hong Son, and Mae La Noi districts. At least 11,436 people required evacuation, and authorities were working swiftly to reach those affected.

Neighbouring provinces, including Chiang Rai, also reported less severe natural disasters. On Tuesday, Chiang Rai warned residents of potential further flooding and landslides.

The Meteorological Department of Thailand forecasted heavy rain for the north and northeast in the coming days, warning of more flash floods in the lower north and provinces on the western side of the northeast, reported Bangkok Post.