Emphasis on Road Safety During Stormy Weather in Northern Thailand
Tropical Storm Wipha, which originally caused damage in the Philippines, South China, and Northern Vietnam, has now brought severe effects to northern Thailand, particularly flooding in some provinces. The most affected provinces are Nan and Phayao, where heavy rainfall and flash floods have made main roads impassable and temporarily suspended key bus services connecting these provinces to Bangkok.
Affected Provinces
- Nan Province: Residents have been wading through waist-high muddy water due to severe floods.
- Phayao Province: Similarly, this province has been heavily affected, with severe flooding leading to transport disruptions.
Safety Precautions
In response to the flooding, the Transport Co., Ltd. (BorkorSor), which operates bus services, has suspended routes to Nan and Phayao to prevent accidents and ensure passenger safety. Drivers on flood-prone routes have been instructed to exercise extreme caution, follow warning signs, and perform thorough vehicle safety checks, especially of brakes, lighting, and tires. Station masters in affected areas have been advised to monitor water levels closely and maintain vigilance as per Ministry of Transport directives.
Public Assistance Services
Passengers affected by service suspensions have been offered full refunds or rescheduling options at any BorkorSor terminal nationwide. Ongoing flood monitoring and updates have been promised by transportation authorities to keep the public informed.
Additional Context
The storm brought sustained heavy rainfall, enhancing the southwest monsoon, which contributed to the flooding and related hazards in northern Thailand. Chiang Mai Airport has taken measures such as offering free parking for flood-affected residents until Thursday. Mae Fah Luang Airport in Chiang Rai is also offering similar services.
Airports of Thailand, including Suvarnabhumi Airport in Bangkok, are operating normally with no disruptions. Passengers planning flights to heavily affected areas like Hong Kong, Macau, and Shenzhen are advised to regularly check their flight status. Measures are in place to ensure flight safety and air traffic management, according to the Aeronautical Radio of Thailand.
In case of flight delays or cancellations, passengers are entitled to full refunds or flight changes (except for compensation due to unforeseeable external events), according to the Civil Aviation Authority. Chiang Mai Airport has opened a coordination center with equipment and staff on hand in domestic passenger hall 1, and airport staff are holding daily situation assessment meetings at 9am.
The State Railway of Thailand is cleaning and improving drainage systems, conducting safety checks on tracks, trains, signals, and barriers, and reviewing emergency response plans and temporary shelters for passengers. The Transport Minister Suriya Jungrungreangkit has stated that transport agencies are ready to offer public assistance for any effects caused by Tropical Storm Wipha in northern Thailand.
Small boats are warned not to go out to the Andaman Sea and upper Gulf of Thailand, according to the Marine Department. No new information about the Department of Highways, the Department of Rural Roads, or other agencies or entities was provided in this paragraph. No new information about the Flood Management System (FMS) was provided in this paragraph either.
- Environmental science experts in Thailand are closely monitoring the effects of Tropical Storm Wipha on the environment, particularly the impact on the flooded provinces of Nan and Phayao.
- In the face of climate-change related disasters like Tropical Storm Wipha, financial institutions might consider offering emergency relief loans to affected provinces to support their transportation infrastructure and environmental recovery efforts.
- As heavy rainfall due to Tropical Storm Wipha has led to public transit disruptions in the affected provinces, there's a growing need for sustainable and climate-resistant transportation and infrastructure systems in environmental-science studies.
