BANGKOK, Thailand – Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation (DDPM) Director-General Phasakorn Boonyaluck chaired a high-level meeting in Chiang Mai province on July 22 to coordinate response measures as Tropical Storm Wipha moves through northern Thailand. The session reviewed the storm’s projected impact, with rainfall in some areas expected to exceed 200 millimeters.
The DDPM has activated a 24-hour operations center and is issuing continuous alerts to at-risk communities through media channels and cell broadcast systems. With Wipha having made landfall in northern Vietnam, the storm is forecast to bring heavy rain across the upper northern provinces, raising the risk of flash floods and landslides. Evacuation warnings have been issued for hillside communities considered to be the most vulnerable.
To support emergency efforts, rescue equipment, vehicles, and survival kits have been pre-positioned at regional centers. A KA-32 helicopter is also stationed in Chiang Mai for use in rescue operations and reaching isolated areas. Temporary shelters have been prepared across multiple provinces to accommodate residents in the event of an evacuation becoming necessary.
In Chiang Mai, authorities are closely monitoring the Ping River, particularly the water flowing from Mae Taeng district, which could potentially increase water levels throughout the city. River and drainage management systems are in place to handle surges, with sluice gates and overflow points under review to reduce flood risk.
Meteorologists caution that Wipha’s path remains unstable, with new projections suggesting movement toward Nan and Chiang Rai provinces. Rainfall in these areas may reach 80 to 100 millimeters per day, and runoff could exceed 100 cubic meters, intensifying flood risk. Local authorities remain on alert as conditions continue to develop.
