BOTH Chiang Mai and Phayao were lashed by a severe summer storm with houses, shops and stalls damaged, tents blown away and large trees uprooted, PPTV said today (Feb. 21).
The storm arrived quickly in Phayao bringing strong winds and continuous heavy rain to several districts with Mae Chai being particularly affected, especially a weekend market where canvas tents blew away and belongings scattered.
Four subdistricts of Chiang Mai’s Chom Thong district were battered by the fierce storm late last night with over 400 houses damaged, most suffering from roofs and tiles being torn off by strong winds. Several shops and Chom Thong Hospital were also wrecked while power poles too were also knocked down. Residents described it as the severest storm in many years.
CCTV footage at a restaurant in this district showed strong winds shattering the restaurant’s front window and customers and staff scrambling for cover, using screens for protection.
The Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation together with the Meteorological Department issued a warning to 60 provinces in the North, Northeast, and Central regions of Thailand as well as Bangkok that more summer storms will hit upper Thailand during Feb. 23-25 as a high-pressure system bringing a cold air mass moves in from China then traverses through the Northeast to South China Sea.
This will result in southerly and southeasterly winds raging through the Northeast, Central, Eastern regions and the Gulf of Thailand with westerly winds also blowing through the North and Northeast regions.
CAPTION:
A severe summer storm tore off roofs in Chiang Mai, above and Front Page, and damaged a market in Phayao, inserted. Photos – PPTVHD36
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