PHETCHABURI: A fierce storm knocked down dozens of high-voltage power poles in Ban Laem district late on Tuesday night, causing widespread blackouts, as the weather office issued a new tropical storm warning for four regions.
The storm hit areas in Phetchaburi province, particularly Ban Laem district, around 10.45pm on Tuesday. Heavy rain and strong winds brought down 34 high-voltage electricity poles and damaged nine transformers at tambon Bang Khrok in Ban Laem.
The road was blocked to traffic and there were widespread blackouts.
The Provincial Electricity Authority’s Phetchaburi branch office said repair crews from Ban Laem and nearby districts were working to restore power.
Witthawat Boonlert, director of the engineering and electricity service section of PEA’s Zone 1 in the South, said on Wednesday they were clearing the road as quickly as possible and replacing the damaged power poles.
The electricity supply was expected to return to normal this evening. It was too early to assess the full cost of the damage.
The Meteorological Department on Wednesday issued a tropical storm Matmo warning for provinces in the lower Northeast, the East, the lower Central and the upper South, extending into Thursday.
A category 2 depression over the middle China Sea had grown into a category 3 tropical storm, the department said in its weather warning.
The storm was about 300 kilometres east of Vietnam early on Wednesday. It was moving west and expected to make landfall later in the day. Isolated heavy to very heavy rain was likely in the four regions of Thailand on Wednesday and Thursday.
People should be aware the weather conditions may cause flash floods and runoff, the department said.
A fierce storm hit areas in Phetchaburi, particularly Ban Laem district, late on Tuesday night, bringing down many high-voltage power poles and causing widespread blackouts. (Photo by Chaiwat Satyaem)
(Photo by Chaiwat Satyaem)