Chiang Rai declared as cold-ridged disaster zone

CHIANG RAI: -- Thailand's northern resort province of Chiang Rai has been declared as a cold-ridged disaster zone because of a severe cold weather covering its entire areas at the moment.

Chief of the province's disaster prevention and mitigation office, Suthep Dejchaisri, told journalists on Wednesday that local residents are suffering from the severe cold, especially those living on highland and mountainous areas.

The entire province was, therefore, declared a cold-ridged disaster zone and packs of blankets and jackets were being dispatched to the residents--more than 100,000 of them--in the affected areas.

The provincial governor approved a Bt50 million emergency fund to support the immediate relief operation, said Mr. Suthep.

He also called for more public donations of both cashes and blankets or thick clothes to be sent to the villagers.

Those who are assisted include the poor, orphans, the elderly, patients, persons with disabilities (PWDs) and other underprivileged groups of people, according to the provincial disaster prevention and mitigation office.

--TNA 2005-12-29

Does anyone know how cold the weather is in CR? The news article didn't care to mention it. It would be nice to compare the Thai's viewpoint of "cold" versus the Westerner's.

It would be nice if the Thai gov't will also declare all of LOS a disaster area when it gets bloody hot in the summer. Maybe hand out cold-towels, air con units, and build swimming pools in every neighbourhood!

Does anyone know how cold the weather is in CR?  The news article didn't care to mention it.  It would be nice to compare the Thai's viewpoint of "cold" versus the Westerner's.

It would be nice if the Thai gov't will also declare all of LOS a disaster area when it gets bloody hot in the summer.  Maybe hand out cold-towels, air con units, and build swimming pools in every neighbourhood! 

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Gumball

I have just done a search on this website

http://www.wunderground.com/cgi-bin/findwe...ng+Rai+Thailand

and there will be a low of something like 16 to 14 degrees.

This of course only reflects the readings at the weather centre and not up in the hills where it can be 10 deg or more colder than this. Add in the windchill factor and for the local Thai people it will be close to zero.

It doesn't sound too cold to us farangs but even where I live in the boonies of Central Thailand it has been down to 14 last week. I even have to wear a shirt at night but it is warm enough in the daytime.

To the Thais up there it is probably equivalent to about -12 to -15 in the west.