North —
On September 14th, 2024, Dr. Opas Karnkawinpong, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Public Health, provided an update on the flood and landslide situation in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai provinces between September 8th-13th.
In Chiang Mai, the districts of Mae Ai and Fang were heavily affected, with 2,978 households impacted, including 109 healthcare workers. There were 3 injuries and 6 deaths. One health center, Ban Tha Makang Health Center, remains closed. Seven temporary shelters have been set up.
In Chiang Rai, 24,925 households across Mae Sai, Mae Chan, Mae Fah Luang, and Muang districts were affected, with 133 injuries and 10 deaths. Five health centers were impacted but remain operational. Twenty-two shelters have been established.
Overall, the two provinces saw 16 deaths, 136 injuries, and 6 healthcare facilities impacted. The Public Health Emergency Operations Centre (PHEOC) has been activated in both provinces, and over 9,000 medical kits have been distributed.
A total of 167 medical teams, including mental health, environmental health, and disease control units, have been deployed. Common health issues include foot infections, musculoskeletal problems, and respiratory conditions. No disease outbreaks related to flooding have been reported, as of press time, according to Dr. Opas.
With water levels decreasing in Chiang Rai, recovery efforts are underway, focusing on environmental sanitation and disease prevention. However, heavy rainfall is expected in some areas of Chiang Mai until September 18th, raising concerns about flash floods and further health risks, remarked Dr. Opas.
Read our latest article about the Thai Bank predicting up to 59.5 billion baht in flood damages.