3 killed as storms hit North, Northeast

3 killed as storms hit North, Northeast

Officials inspect one of houses that collapsed after a summer thunderstorm and gusty winds hit three districts of Nan on Friday night and Saturday morning. (Photo by Rarinthorn Petcharoen)
Officials inspect one of houses that collapsed after a summer thunderstorm and gusty winds hit three districts of Nan on Friday night and Saturday morning. (Photo by Rarinthorn Petcharoen)

Three people were killed in summer thunderstorms and hail that wreaked havoc in several northern and northeastern provinces on Friday night and Saturday, damaging 542 houses.

In Nan, a summer storm pounded Pua, Chiang Klang and Tha Wang Pha districts from Friday night until early Saturday morning. It brought heavy rain, hail and strong winds that blew away roofs of many houses.

Narong Insor, head of Nan's disaster prevention and mitigation office, on Saturday led officials to survey damage in the storm-hit areas of the northern province. More than 50 houses in the three districts were damaged, with no injuries or deaths.

Authorities would set aside a budget for repairs to the damaged houses, said Mr Narong.

In Sakon Nakhon, a thunderstorm struck 11 districts on Friday night, damaging 261 houses and schools. The 11 affected districts included Muang, Akat Amnuai, Sawang Daen Din, Waritchaphum, Wanon Niwat, Phang Khon, Kut Bak, Phon Na Kaeo, Charoen Sin, Tao Ngoi and Phu Phan.

There were two deaths reported in Kut Bak and Phu Phan districts after big trees, uprooted by storms, fell on houses.

Local residents said heavy rain and hailstones, some as big as a fist, pounded Charoen Sin district while they were sleeping late Friday night. Several vehicles were hit by the hailstones.

Strong winds also knocked down several roadside trees that fell on power lines on a section of Road No.213 along the Sakon Nakhon-Kalasin route in Muang district on Friday, causing blackouts in tambon Huay Yang and tambon Pangkwang. The incident also blocked traffic on the route for more than two hours 

In Kalasin, a summer storm and hailstones ravaged four districts, damaging 181 houses and farmland on Friday night. There were no reports of deaths or injuries.

In Kham Muang district, a total of 125 houses were damaged. The other affected areas were Khong Chai, Nong Kung Si, and Yang Talat districts.

Kalasin governor Winai Witthayanukul said he had ordered district authorities to work closely with local administration organisations to survey the damage and report to the province so assistance could be given.

He advised local residents to closely monitor weather forecasts and be on alert for the danger caused by storms, heavy downpours and thunderbolts during this period.

In Nakhon Phanom, a summer storm and gusty winds hit three districts in this northeastern province for over three hours on Friday, uprooting many trees and damaging over 100 houses.

Provincial authorities have set up a coordinating centre in the affected areas to provide assistance to people around the clock.

In Muang district, a 56-year-old man was killed when he was struck by lightning in his paddy field in tambon Tha Kho on Friday, said Pol Capt Pongsak Phiewpui, a deputy investigation chief at the Muang district police station.

The victim suffered burns after lightning hit him as he sought shelter under a big tree.

Electricity workers are sent to repair power poles after roadside trees knocked down by a storm fell on power lines on a road in Sakon Nakhon's Muang district on Friday, causing blackouts in two nearby communities and blocking traffic for two hours on Friday night. (Photo by Pratuan Kajonvuthinun)

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