Flash Floods Ravage Northern Thailand, One Dead, One Missing

LAMPANG, Sept 23 (TNA) - Flash floods triggered by heavy rainfall in northern Thailand's Lampang province have left one person dead and one missing, local officials reported on Monday.

The floods, which began around midnight, swept through several villages in Hang Chat district after torrential rains in the Doi Khun Tan National Park area. Water levels rose to over 1.5 meters in some areas, destroying homes and forcing residents to evacuate.

In Ban Huai Rian village, more than 40 houses were damaged by the rushing waters. A local official reported that a 48-year-old woman went missing during the floods. Her husband said he last saw her fleeing their single-story house near the Mae Tan stream before the floodwaters intensified.

In a nearby village, the body of an elderly woman was found caught on an electricity pole. Three other people were reported injured and taken to hospital.

The floods also caused landslides in two locations near the Khun Tan railway tunnel, forcing the State Railway of Thailand to suspend services between Lampang and Chiang Mai provinces. The railway authority announced that bus services would replace trains until further notice.

Rescue efforts continued throughout Friday, with officials working to evacuate stranded residents and assess the damage. The floodwaters began to recede by mid-morning, but authorities warned of potential further flooding in downstream areas.

In a separate incident, railway officials reported rescuing about 50 tourists who were stranded in Doi Khun Tan National Park due to road damage caused by the floods.