Chiang Mai, Thailand— A flash flood swept away a tourist group trekking in northern Thailand on October 20, killing four people and leaving two missing after a swollen mountain stream surged without warning.
The group of six, including Thai and foreign tourists and two local guides, was crossing a stream near Mae Wang district, south of Chiang Mai city. They were on a popular jungle trek to see waterfalls. Rain had fallen heavily overnight in the mountains. At around 10:30 a.m., water came down from higher ground. Witnesses downstream said they heard a roar. Then brown water.
Four bodies were recovered several kilometers downstream by late afternoon. Two people, a tourist and a guide, remain missing. Rescue teams from the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation and local villagers are searching along the riverbanks. Water levels remain high and currents are strong. Drones are being used to scan inaccessible areas.
"The stream was ankle-deep when they crossed in the morning," said a guesthouse owner who booked the tour. "Then in minutes it was chest-deep and moving fast. No one could stand." Another guide who was nearby said the group tried to hold onto rocks. They were pulled away.
Northern Thailand is in the final weeks of monsoon season. Flash floods are common in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, and Mae Hong Son provinces. Deforestation on hillslopes and unregulated trekking routes increase risk. Tour operators often take groups into valleys despite weather warnings. A local official said no warning was issued for this specific stream, but heavy rain alerts were in place for the district.
The victims include two Thai nationals and two foreigners, according to preliminary information from police. Nationalities have not been officially confirmed. The two missing are a 24-year-old French tourist and a 30-year-old Thai guide. Their families have been contacted. The French Embassy said it is monitoring the search.
The governor of Chiang Mai ordered all trekking and rafting activities in Mae Wang suspended until further notice. The Tourism Authority said it will review safety standards for adventure tour operators. Guides are required to check weather forecasts and carry communication devices, but enforcement is lax. Many operate without licenses.
Rescue operations were halted at dusk due to darkness and rising water. More rain is forecast tonight. Officials said the search will resume at first light. Villagers downstream have been told to watch for bodies or belongings.
The river is still running high. The search team has not found the two missing.
Published by Banx Network. This article is part of the Banx decentralized media programme, powered by the BXE token on the XRP Ledger.
