Mae Ai and Chiang Dao in far north recovering after floods

Pirin Limcharoen, chief of the Chiang Mai Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, said many areas in the province, especially Mae Ai, had been inundated since Thursday evening. 
Overflows from Mae Na Wang creek flooded eight villages in tambon Ban Luang and nine villages in tambon San Ton Mue before flowing into the Fang River. 
He said the situation was back to normal last night and local authorities were inspecting the damage to farmland and homes. 
Local officials delivered 1,500 relief bags to affected villagers along with mobile water pumps to |help drain flood water, he said, adding that coordination centres |to aid flood victims were set up in Mae Ai.
District chief Chaluay Puangplab said the flood had affected 1,700 villagers. So far tambon Ban Luang reported nine houses damaged while San Ton Mue was still under a 70-centimetre-deep flood, as the water drained slowly to the Fang River because of weeds and debris blocking the path. 
So officials had requested heavy machines to help clear the water. But he said the area would be dry by last night.
Meanwhile, Chiang Dao district chief Sarawut Worapong said 1,000 rai (160 hectares) of farmland in tambon Chiang Dao, Ping Khong and Mae Na were underwater also.
Meanwhile, some 50 households were affected by flooding due to |forest run-off. The flood had gone as of press time and a damaged pedestrian bridge was being repaired, while officials were helping residents clean their homes.
In Kalayaniwattana tribal district, downpours had caused a waterway connected to Mae Chaem River to overflow, flooding seven villages in- tambon Ban Chan. 
With the flood having subsided as of press time, Sorapong Telawanich said local authorities were inspecting the damage.