Tourists who ignored warning signs at a Thai waterfall were swept away by a sudden flash flood while posing for selfies on August 15.
The vacationers slipped into a restricted zone at Mae Sa Waterfall in Doi Suthep-Pui National Park in Chiang Mai, northern Thailand, according to park staff. They were perched on rocks in the river taking photographs when floodwaters surged down from the mountain without warning.
Footage captured by an onlooker shows the visitors stranded as water rapidly rose around them. Raging currents swept several tourists downstream while others screamed for help. One long-haired tourist was seen trying to crawl across the torrent.
Park rangers arrived to pull the group back to safety. The tourists reportedly suffered only minor scratches and were given first aid at the scene.
Arttie Martin, who filmed the incident, said he was about to follow the group into the river when the waters suddenly surged. “It was truly a matter of split seconds,” he told Viral Press. “I was just about to take off my shoes and walk into the middle to follow the foreigners and take a photo of the waterfall.”
“Just then, I heard an officer blow a whistle, and right after that, it unfolded exactly as seen. It happened so fast,” he continued.
Martin posted the footage online with a message explaining his intentions. “I would like to clarify first that posting this clip is not intended to violate anyone’s privacy or publish images of the individuals featured without permission,” he wrote. “If any part of this makes those appearing in the clip feel uncomfortable, I sincerely apologize.”
“I am sharing this because I want it to serve as a cautionary tale for all tourists,” he added. “Especially during the rainy season, when visiting waterfalls, you should exercise extra caution, observe warning signs and instructions from staff, and continuously monitor the colour, level and current speed of the water, as conditions can change extremely quickly.”
Park staff said the incident occurred at around 4:20 p.m. Local time. Officers were stationed at several locations near the waterfall and had told the tourists to leave the water shortly before the flash flood struck.
In the viral moment that preceded the rescue, several tourists can be seen posing on rocks in the stream while water levels remain deceptively calm. The footage shows the sudden transformation of the scene as a wall of water crashes down, instantly submerging the rocks and sweeping people off their feet. One visitor attempts to maintain balance before being knocked over by the force of the current.
Authorities said water levels have since receded, but the Mae Sa waterfall remains closed to the public pending safety assessments.
The Northern Meteorological Centre warned of heavy to very heavy rainfall across the northern region, including Chiang Mai, from August 18 to 21. The agency attributed the dangerous conditions to a monsoon trough passing through the northern and upper northeastern regions, combined with a relatively strong southwest monsoon prevailing over the Andaman Sea and the Gulf of Thailand.
Residents were urged to be vigilant for flash floods, especially in hillside areas near waterways and low-lying areas. Travellers were warned to avoid flood-prone routes.
Thailand is at the peak of its monsoon season, which usually runs from May through October, bringing storms and flooding to much of the country.