A flash flood at Mae Sa Waterfall in Chiang Mai swept tourists downstream on Aug. 15, sending several people clinging to one another before park rangers later pulled the group to safety. Video from the scene showed rushing water surrounding them as one tourist struggled through the current while others screamed for help.
Arttie Martin said he was moments from taking off his shoes and walking into the water to take a photo when a park officer blew a whistle and the flood hit. “It was truly a matter of split seconds,” he said, describing how fast the scene changed at the waterfall.
Martin’s warning landed because the incident is now tied to the busy rainy season in Thailand, when waterfalls can turn dangerous with little notice. He said visitors should watch warning signs, listen to staff and keep an eye on the color, level and speed of the water, because conditions can shift almost immediately.
The jolt in this case was not just the force of the water but how quickly it overwhelmed people who had stepped onto rocks in the stream. Even so, the tourists reportedly came away with only minor scratches and were given first aid after the rescue, a contrast that underscored how close the incident came to being far worse.
Access to Mae Sa Waterfall remained restricted after the flash flood, and that is the clearest sign the danger has not fully passed. The immediate question is how long the closure will last before visitors are allowed back near the water.
