The world-famous temple city of Chiang Mai in northern Thailand was flooded again on Friday after heavy monsoon rains lashed the region.
According to local authorities, the Ping River, which flows through the city of 115,000 residents, reached a record high in the evening.
Large amounts of water from upstream districts inundated the popular tourist site, forcing residents and visitors from affected areas to move to safety.
Volunteers tried to hold back the advancing water with sandbags.
Many animals were also threatened, especially in elephant camps, where the animals were literally up to their necks in water, media and eyewitnesses report.
In various locations in Chiang Mai, many elephants that were once abused and subsequently rescued live in such facilities, which can also be visited by tourists.
The Elephant Nature Park in particular was hit hard and sent a call for help to the authorities.
“We are in a serious crisis!” employees wrote on Facebook. “We urgently need help, big cars and big boats to evacuate animals and people from here.”
In the evening it was reported that several animals, including a buffalo, had been washed away. Khaosod newspaper quoted the founder of the Friends of Asian Elephants foundation as saying that at least one elephant had already drowned and 30 more were missing.
However, 117 elephants had also been rescued, Deputy Prime Minister Phumtham Wechayachai said. Many smaller animals such as cats and dogs had also been brought to safety.
Many parts of Southeast Asia are still experiencing the rainy season, which has been particularly heavy in the north this year.
Chiang Mai, also known as the Rose of the North, is considered one of Thailand’s most important showpieces with its historic old town and many sights. It was already hit by serious flooding in September.
Floods also occurred repeatedly in other provinces, especially in the province of Chiang Rai, which is also popular with tourists, located on the border with Myanmar and Laos.
