Summer storms hit many parts of upper Thailand on Monday, killing one man and damaging farmland, houses and public utilities.

In Nakhon Ratchasima, a man was killed by a thunderbolt in Non Sung district. 

Pol Capt Intares Bunthoon, a duty officer at Phonsongkhram police station, said Prachuab Phunok, 62,  was sitting under a tree looking after a herd of cows in a field near Phonchalok village in tambon Makha.  Lightning struck the tree, killing him instantly.

Another thunderbolt struck a herd of cows in a field in tambon Rangka Yai in Phimai district, killing one of them. Prachuab Rakrai, 55, who was looking after his cattle, was injured.

Farther north, in Uttaradit, violent storms, some with hail, hit many districts.

In Thong Saen Khan district, a storm brought down 14 electricity poles along Saen Khan-Ban Phae road in tambon Bo Thong, causing a blackout, and damaged about 30 houses. Many houses at Moo 6 village in tambon Phak Khuang were also damaged.

In Tha Pla district, five houses at Ban Yandu in tambon Pha Luat were destroyed by a whirlwind.

Parts of Pichai, Fak Tha, Nam Pat and Lap Lae districts were reported severely damaged by a strong storm with heavy rain. 

In the Uttaradit Municipality, a storm uprooted a big tree in front of the OUM Hotel, causing a power blackout which lasted more than three hours.

Many power poles along Highway 11 (Uttaradit-Denchai) were blown down, leaving nearby villages without electricity for several hours.

In Buri Ram, parts of Muang district of the lower northeastern province were pounded by a rainstorm late on Monday night.

The storm swept the roof off a building at Ban Thaworn School in tambon Sawaichik and damaged three other school buildings and the flagpole. Also damaged were teaching equipment, desks, tables, electrical appliances and document cabinets.

More than 40 houses, rice barns and animal pens in the area were damaged.

Local people said it was the fiercest storm in 50 years.

In Kanchanaburi, many parts of Tha Muang district were pounded by a violent rainstorm and 50-60 houses in tambons Wang Khanai, Thung Thong and Tha Muang were heavily damaged.

In Phitsanulok, a big tree fell on a van parked on the Wang Nok Aen-Ban Klang road in Wang Thong district during a downpour. Rescuers cleared away the branches and helped people from the van. The vehicle was badly damaged, but nobody was hurt.

 

Bangkok Post