House Destroyed by Lightning Strike, Resulting in 700,000 Baht Damage

snoop1130 · June 10

A house rented by a couple was razed to its foundation by a fire that resulted from a lightning strike. The event resulted in damages costing over 700,000 baht. Thankfully, the pair, who are avid motorcyclists, were out at the time buying dinner and hence escaped harm.

Sunan Chumchua, a rescue worker with the Kusonsathan Trang Foundation, evaluated the damages at the aforementioned house in the Khlong Khlo Subdistrict, Mueang District, Trang Province. The house's occupants, Supoj Napsang and Nisakorn Klabsriaon, suffered this calamity when lightning hit the house at around 5pm the previous day.

The lightning hit the center of the house causing serious damage and setting off the fire that ate up everything inside. The SR Gallery motorcycle club, to which they belong, transferred funds immediately after the incident to provide help.

Supoj said that he had left the house just before 4.45pm to get dinner from a local market. When Supoj was at the market, he could hear continuous thunder. Soon his partner informed him by phone that lightning had struck their house, setting it on fire. The fire had already gained momentum by the time Supoj rushed back, with fire officials battling the flames. Supoj believes the electrical outlet in the house could be where the lightning hit, starting a fire that later engulfed everything.

Supoj catalogued the losses—they lost a motorcycle, a freezer, clothes, a TV, a refrigerator, fans, and all other electric appliances totaling to an estimated loss of 700,000 baht. If they were home when the lightning hit, they could have been in danger.

Supoj added that immediate help came from the SR Gallery motorcycle club members who pooled funds to buy essential items. The local municipality also supplied survival kits and started relief aid. The couple has now moved in with Supoj’s mother since their business gear was all lost in the fire, requiring them to replace everything for their work.

Supoj is thankful for the help but is also prepared to face the situation if no more aid comes their way. More aid is coming their way though, as the SR Gallery team plans a concert on June 15 to collect more funds. The concert’s purpose is to bring more financial help for Supoj and his partner as they look to rebuild their lives post the fire. The readiness of the community to help is testament to its solidarity and helpfulness during challenging times.

File photo for reference only

-- 2024-06-10

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khunPer · June 10

I had a pair of lightning rods installed on my house, when I built it – a high sacred palm tree on the neighbour's land, which was designed to stand in the middle of their luxury house under construction, got hit by lightning and died – so it's probably not a bad idea to be protected, and presumably much cheaper than a damage on one's house.

Do you have lightning rod on top of your house?

Shmo · June 10

Lightning rods attract lightning! Why would I want to attract lightning to my house? We are not in Tartaria anymore!

hotchilli · June 10

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Supoj catalogued the losses—they lost a motorcycle, a freezer, clothes, a TV, a refrigerator, fans, and all other electric appliances totaling to an estimated loss of 700,000 baht. If they were home when the lightning hit, they could have been in danger.

No 5 million savings under the bed?

2baht · June 10

56 minutes ago, Shmo said:

Lightning rods attract lightning! Why would I want to attract lightning to my house? We are not in Tartaria anymore!

Lightning rods are earthed, they run from the roof into the ground to deflect any strikes!

richard_smith237 · June 11

1 hour ago, Shmo said:

Lightning rods attract lightning! Why would I want to attract lightning to my house? We are not in Tartaria anymore!

Someone needs to go back to school... :whistling:

Muhendis · June 11

28 minutes ago, 2baht said:

Lightning rods are earthed, they run from the roof into the ground to deflect any strikes!

Isn't that how the York Minster lightning rods were connected?

2baht · June 11

1 minute ago, Muhendis said:

Isn't that how the York Minster lightning rods were connected?

It's how all earth rods are connected!

arick · June 11

Was the house made of plywood most houses in Thailand are made out of bricks I hardly doubt it it would burn or caused that much damage

arick · June 11

3 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Someone needs to go back to school...

Lightning rods don't work

arick · June 11

2 hours ago, Muhendis said:

Isn't that how the York Minster lightning rods were connected?

Lightning rods don't work it's just a false myth

rabas · June 11

17 minutes ago, arick said:

Lightning rods don't work it's just a false myth

Sure they do. Stunning Images Reveal How Lightning Rods Work

Image captured with high-speed camera shows several lightning rods trying to connect to the downward discharge.

2baht · June 11

6 hours ago, arick said:

Lightning rods don't work

Rubbish!

PETERTHEEATER · June 12

The couple rented the house which was "destroyed" in fact "razed to the foundations so, does the 700k value include that of the house as well as the renter's personal effects? Has the owner commented?🤔

brianthainess · June 14

On 6/10/2024 at 5:38 PM, khunPer said:

I had a pair of lightning rods installed on my house, when I built it – a high sacred palm tree on the neighbour's land, which was designed to stand in the middle of their luxury house under construction, got hit by lightning and died – so it's probably not a bad idea to be protected, and presumably much cheaper than a damage on one's house.

Do you have lightning rod on top of your house?

No I have a tin roof on steel beams, welded to the steel inside the concrete pillars, that go at least a meter into the ground.