Severe flooding and flash run-off swept across Nan province on Wednesday, leaving two people dead and inundating communities in several districts.
By 4pm on August 19, more than 16,000 residents from approximately 8,000 households had been affected. Pua was among the worst-hit districts, with floods reported in 60 villages across seven subdistricts.
One victim, a bedridden resident of Moo 8 in Sila Phet subdistrict, was unable to evacuate independently when rapidly rising water entered the area. The resident was swept from the home shared with their mother and later found dead.
A second body was discovered near Ban Fai Mun in Moo 1 of Pha Kha subdistrict, Tha Wang Pha district. The Phetkasem Foundation, which was supporting evacuation efforts, said the deceased was a man believed to have been between 45 and 50 years old.
Although water levels had started falling in Pua, large volumes of floodwater were continuing to move downstream towards Tha Wang Pha and communities situated along the Nan River and its tributaries.
Critical red alerts were issued for Ban Chiang Yuen in Yom subdistrict and Ban Na Tao in Rim subdistrict as water levels continued to climb. The lower section of Woranakhon Road through Tha Wang Pha market was also rendered impassable.
Rescue workers evacuated four vulnerable residents who had become trapped inside their homes in Ban Fai Mun. Nan Municipality also advised people in flood-prone communities, particularly those affected by the major floods of 2006 and 2024, to prepare for worsening conditions.
Residents were instructed to move household belongings to higher ground, stock up on food, drinking water and essential medicines, and relocate vehicles to safer areas.
Vulnerable people were also urged to move to secure locations and closely follow official water-level reports and evacuation announcements.
Municipal crews reinforced flood defences near Nan Hospital by positioning large barriers, commonly known as “big bags,” across openings behind the Ban Nam Lom community to prevent water from reaching the medical facility.
Nan Mayor Suraphon Thiansut said the province would remain at risk throughout the August 18–21 warning period as a monsoon trough continued to produce heavy accumulated rainfall.
Rainfall totals exceeded 200 millimetres across most of the province and surpassed 300mm in Pua, sending greater volumes of water into local tributaries. Suraphon said the eventual flood level could not yet be predicted, although conditions could become comparable to those experienced in 2006.
Pumping operations were running at full capacity to slow the spread of floodwater and give residents additional time to secure their possessions. Crews were also using sandbags and large barriers to seal vulnerable gaps in the municipality’s flood defences.
Officials were monitoring readings from the N.64 station at Ban Pha Khwang and the N.1 station to assess the developing situation. Nan Municipality issued an initial warning to at-risk communities and told residents to be prepared to evacuate if water levels rose further.
Authorities were also preparing to close Nakhon Nan Pattana Bridge, widely known as Nan Hospital Bridge, at 4pm because of the rising water. Motorists were advised to avoid the surrounding area.
Meanwhile, Nan Highway District 2 closed Route 1256, linking Pua, Doi Phu Kha National Park and Bo Kluea, after several high-voltage electricity poles collapsed or became unstable.
Preliminary inspections found that 15 poles had fallen and approximately 23 others were leaning, completely blocking access along the affected stretch of road. Residents and tourists were warned not to use the route until officials confirmed it was safe.
