Storms, Hail, Cause Chaos Over Thailand

[george]

Storms, hail, cause chaos over Thailand

BANGKOK: -- Thunderstorms have caused chaos in Bangkok and other provinces nationwide, causing one death and widespread damage to houses, vehicles and farmland. In Bangkok and surrounding provinces, thunderstorms yesterday brought heavy rain and strong winds to many areas, causing severe damage.

Separate road accidents involving 14 vehicles were reported on Rama IV road. Five road accidents occurred in the Huay Khwang tunnel. Traffic in several areas was heavily congested due to downpours and road accidents.

Thunderstorms also caused blackouts at several locations in Thong Lor, Asoke and Pathumwan yesterday.

Hail pelted down in Lad Phrao and some areas in Bangkok.

At Sanam Luang II market, vendors' tents and goods were wrecked by freak storms.

The Meteorological Department yesterday warned of more thunderstorms in northern parts of the country through tomorrow due to an intense high-pressure system from China.

Residents were told to brace themselves for possibly violent storms.

The department advised people to stay indoors and to avoid walking near big trees and billboards.

People were also told to avoid using communication devices or holding any object that could be an electricity conductor during storms.

In Phichit, thunderstorms ravaged three tambons in Sak Lek district, damaging 30 houses and farmland.

One woman, identified as Sukanya Ngernma, 33, was killed when a coconut tree fell on her.

The woman was gathering garments from a clothes line in tambon Khlong Sai when the storms struck.

In Phitsanulok province, storms flattened more than 50 houses and wrecked more than 1,000 rai of paddy fields in Wat Bot district.

Many trees were uprooted.

In Yasothon province, freak storms tore off roofs and partially damaged a two-storey building at Ban Daeng Prachasan school in tambon Phrasao in Maha Chana Chai district.

Initial damage was estimated at 300,000 baht.

Thunderstorms also ripped off roofs of about 10 houses and uprooted vast areas of orchards in tambon Phrasao.

Local authorities yesterday sent public works staff to survey damaged houses and erected tents.

Lampang governor Somboon Sripattanawat said 50 villages in nine districts have been declared disaster zones as freak storms struck.

About 50 million baht in emergency funding has been allocated to help affected residents.

Each district was asked to use a million baht in reserve funds to repair damaged houses in their areas.

In Chaiyaphum, a hail storm knocked down power lines in tambon Ban Han in Kaset Sombun district.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department yesterday warned of 44 northern and north-eastern provinces to brace themselves for freak storms until April 3.

-- Bangkok Post 2009-04-01

[harrry]

Thai citizens are warned, especially in the North of the country that the excess of water must be cleared up to avoid problems. All thais are herby ordered to throw water at everyone and everything for at least four days starting on April 13.

[ScubaBuddha]

George it looks like the story is printed twice.

People were also told to avoid using communication devices....

Why not just say telephones? Better yet, land line phones. I don't think there is any risk in using mobiles.

[sbk]

George it looks like the story is printed twice.

People were also told to avoid using communication devices....

Why not just say telephones? Better yet, land line phones. I don't think there is any risk in using mobiles.

Mobile phone risk during storms

Lightning

Metal in objects such as phones can direct the current into the body

Next time you find yourself talking on your mobile phone in the middle of a thunderstorm you may want to cut the conversation short.

UK doctors have warned of the danger of lightning strikes when using mobile phones outdoors during stormy weather.

In the British Medical Journal, they highlight the case of a teenager left with severe injuries after being struck by lightning when talking on her phone.

The metal in the phone directs the current into the body, they say.

A 15-year-old girl was struck by lightning while talking on her phone in a large park in London during stormy weather.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/5106510.stm

There is also the story of the kid in Colorado who was struck by lightning while mowing the lawn. He had his Ipod on:

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/9480106/detail.html

[neverdie]

George it looks like the story is printed twice.

People were also told to avoid using communication devices....

Why not just say telephones? Better yet, land line phones. I don't think there is any risk in using mobiles.

As sbk said, there is great risk using your mobile telephone in a thunderstorm.....it was only last year that a group of Australian school children were hit by lightening at a waterfall somewhere in Northern Thailand, a couple of the students and a teacher lost their lives, by memory & it was established that someone was on a mobile telephone at the time of the incident.

There have been other reports of this type of thing too, but my old memory has this thing about not remembering

Edited April 1, 2009 by neverdie