Vendors in Warorot Market in downtown Chiang Mai have returned to their shops after flood waters retreated from Chiang Mai’s downtown to damaged merchandise and shops, with several estimating the damage to their shops to be in the six figures.

Mud-stained rolls of fabric in front of a shop in Warorot Market.

A popular tourist spot known for selling local foods, Warorot Market is located next to the Ping River and was one of the first downtown locations flooded when the river overflowed its banks on Saturday (5 October), reaching a record-breaking 5.30 metres.

This is the second time Chiang Mai’s downtown area has been flooded in 10 days. On 26 September, the Ping River overflowed, reaching 4.93 metre at the peak of the flood before retreating back into its banks by 29 September.

On Sunday night (6 October), the water began retreating from the city centre. By Monday (7 October), the river had returned to its banks, measuring below 3.70 metres. Vendors in Warorot Market returned to inspect and clean their shops. Many said that the market has never faced flooding to this degree, and that merchandise was damaged even though the vendors tried to raise it as high as possible. Some vendors who could not rescue their merchandise in time also said that the cost of the damage is expected to be over 100,000 baht.

Flood damage inside Den Charoen fabric shop

The owner of the Den Charoen fabric shop said that the business has lost up to a million baht due to flood damage to its stock. He said that although a warning was issued and he prepared by blocking the entrance with sandbags and plastic sheets, the water level was higher than expected. This is the worst flood damage he has ever faced, he said, and it will take days to properly clean the shop as the flood water had left mud behind.

He said that the city has done well in managing the flood, as they issued warnings and put up sandbags next to the riverbank, but he said that it would have been better if they added another layer of sandbags to prevent the market from being flooded, since it is one of Chiang Mai’s main business districts.

Inside Yupin Flower shop

Meanwhile, at the nearby fresh flower market next to the Ping River, the owner of the Yupin Flower shop said her shop has lost over 100,000 baht from flood damage and failing to deliver customers’ orders. Like other vendors, the owner said she tried putting her merchandise up high, but the water was higher than expected.

She said she hasn’t heard how vendors at Warorot Market will be compensated for the damage, but hopes that the government will help them.

Mallika Flower shop has had to throw away the fresh flowers in their stock worth tens of thousands of baht. The owner said that although she was able to put everything away, she cannot sell the flowers left in her stock. She has been selling flowers at Warorot Market for 10 years and this is the worst flood she has ever seen. Meanwhile, the market does not have access to clean water, and she wants the city municipality to help clean up the mud on the street and around the market.