Two elephants drowned during flash flooding in popular Thai tourist hotspot Chiang Mai, their sanctuary said Sunday, as local authorities evacuated visitors from their hotels and shops closed in the city centre.

Chang Wat Chiang Mai, Thailand - October 05, 2024 Heavy rainfall swept through northern Thailand on Friday, October 4, causing the second major flood within a week. Residents of Chiang Mai and surrounding areas were forced to evacuate to higher ground,

Chiang Mai, Thailand’s northern city popular with tourists, has been inundated by widespread flooding as its main river overflowed its banks following heavy seasonal rainfall.

The Chiang Mai city government said the water level of the Ping River, which runs along the eastern edge of the city, was at critically high levels and was rising since Friday.

October 04, 2024 Floods breached sandbag barriers as heavy rain returned to northern Thailand. Torrential rainfall struck the region again and caused the Sai River to burst its banks in Chiang Mai province on October 3.

The country is still dealing with flash floods since Super Typhoon Yagi, which has killed hundreds of people across Southeast Asia Tourists in Chiang Mai have been warned to be alert for floods as waters spill over the banks of the Ping River,

As videos surface from the sanctuary, it can be seen how elephants are walking in the rising water levels hoping to get to a safety zone as soon as possible. The sanctuary is dedicated to elephants who are rescued or have escaped ultimate cruelty to live a peaceful life ahead.

Chiang Mai, a city in northern Thailand that is popular with tourists, was flooded on Saturday as its main river overflowed its banks following heavy seasonal rainfall. Authorities ordered some evacuations and said they were working to pump water out of residential areas and clear obstructions from waterways and drains to help the floodwater recede faster.