Thailand has been hit with chaos, with tourists being told to take shelter from Typhoon Noru, which hit Thailand on Thursday and is expected to linger in the kingdom for several days. According to a Thai media statement, the storm has already “wreaked havoc” in the country. Tourists are urged to monitor alerts and evacuate if necessary. Showers and stormy winds “covered” almost the entire country, but residents of 11 provinces and tourists who were “swept” there are in a special risk zone.
These are the provinces of Bangkok, Uthai Thani, Suphanburi, Samut Prakan, Pathum Thani, Sing Buri, Lop Buri, Nonthaburi, Ayutthaya, China, and Ang Thong. The main cause of the alert is the Chao Phraya River, where the water level may rise by at least 70 cm. The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation and the Royal Department of Irrigation have issued relevant warnings. On the river, the release of water at the Chai Nat dam has been increased, but the water level has already exceeded safe levels.
“Warnings should be heeded, especially those who live outside the embankments, in low-lying areas, and workers along the banks of rivers,” the Thai media warned, including tourists. So far, 4,000 people have been evacuated, but mostly residents of Ubonratchathani, a province of northeastern Thailand that is not well known on the tourist map.
The government expects the typhoon to subside by Saturday evening. However, the state of emergency remains in place for the time being, and a special emergency committee has been set up to closely monitor the impact of Noru, as rains and floods are expected in almost all areas of the country.