After a landslide impacted Pang Ung village in Chiang Mai’s Mae Chaem district in the early morning of August 27, a subsequent deadly mudslide resulted in four deaths, 15 injuries, and five people unaccounted for in a community in the northern province.
The initial landslide occurred at 2:50 a.m. on August 27, demolishing five houses and causing one fatality. More than 10 individuals were hurt and transported to hospitals in Khun Yuam and Mae Chaem for medical attention. Emergency responders acted quickly, initiating search and rescue efforts, though one person is still missing.
The event inflicted substantial destruction in the Mae Suk subdistrict, as the landslide’s momentum carried off structures and rubble.
Later that evening, a second landslide occurred, with rescue personnel urgently searching for five missing individuals following a mudslide that ravaged sections of Mae Chaem district.
Caused by heavy downpours, the catastrophe surged through Ban Pang Ung and Ban Pang Ung Mai villages in the Mae Suek subdistrict. More than 100 residences were impacted, including eight that were completely destroyed.
Chiang Mai Deputy Governor Siwakon Buaphong indicated that the flash floods and mudslide affected two villages, home to about 500 households and 2,000 residents each.
“A massive volume of water and mud descended from the mountain during the night, leading to widespread devastation and casualties.”
The verified deaths included two Shan people and two Thai locals. Fifteen individuals were injured, with two in critical condition. The five missing are thought to be Shan.
In response to the calamity, provincial authorities and local organizations hurried to the site to assess the destruction and aid those affected. Ongoing rainfall has increased the danger of additional landslides, resulting in an evacuation directive for people in vulnerable zones.
Ban Pang Ung School has been transformed into a temporary refuge, accommodating over 50 evacuees to date. Relief operations are being managed by the Chiang Mai Provincial Administrative Organisation, which has sent equipment, water vehicles, food provisions, and illumination tools to the impacted regions, as reported by Amarin TV.
