Severe flooding in northern Thailand drowns elephants and displaces thousands in Chiang Mai

Severe flooding in northern Thailand, worsened by Typhoon Yagi, has led to the drowning of two elephants in Chiang Mai. The region is experiencing its worst floods in decades, affecting 20 provinces and displacing thousands of households. The Elephant Nature Park evacuated over 100 elephants and other animals as flash floods inundated the area. Rescuers faced challenges due to strong currents and inaccessible roads. The Ping River reached a record height of 5.3 meters. Power outages have impacted downtown Chiang Mai, leading to hotel evacuations and the closure of the train station. Three fatalities have been reported, including a man electrocuted and a woman killed in a mudslide. Flood warnings extend to Bangkok and nearby provinces.