Typhoon Yagi flood swamps market in northern Thailand

Floods caused by typhoon Yagi swamped a market in northern Thailand today.

Footage shows the deluge submerging the Sailom Joy Market in Chiang Rai province where vendors have closed up shop on September 10. Stallholders had to relocate their wares to higher ground. 

The first Thai-Myanmar Friendship Bridge was also flooded causing traffic disruptions.

The area is located near the Sai River and a weir in the neighbouring Burmese district of Tachileik, which is notorious for overflowing during the rainy season.

Authorities said it had been raining since September 8, with the water level rising up to 3.3 ft.

The Provincial Electricity Authority cut off power to the market to the market to prevent electrocutions. However, the outage disrupted the water supply to several villages.

The Mae Sai District Office, local officials, soldiers, and rescue teams were assisting flood-stricken residents.

Thailand's Meteorological Department said forecasted heavy rain and floods over the weekend due to Yagi's influence.

Yagi, said to be Asia's most powerful storm this year, was downgraded to a tropical storm on Sunday morning, September 8. It killed at least 15 people in the Philippines before slamming into southern China and Vietnam, where it left at least 49 dead and 22 missing.

Thailand and neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia are in their annual monsoon rainy season which sees soaring temperatures followed by powerful rain storms in the afternoon leading to widespread flash floods.