Cold snap remains in Thai North

CHIANG RAI, THAILAND, January 27 (TNA) - Temperatures in the Thai North remain low, with Chiang Rai's Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office warning locals of low visibility due to heavy fog, when commuting through mountain routes. The weather in Chiang Rai was still quite cold, with temperature measuring at only 10 degrees Celsius on Saturday morning and heavy fog blanketing the heart of the province, lowering the visibility to only 50 metres and prompting local motorists to turn on their headlamps for safety. This early morning's flights from Chiang Rai's Mae FahLuang Airport were also delayed until after 9 am, Thailand's time, pending the fog to clear up. The Chiang Rai Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office has, thus, warned motorists to be extra careful when using routes blanketed with fog, especially on Doi Mae Salong and Phu Che Fah. In adjacent Chiang Mai Province, temperature at Doi Ang Kang Royal Agricultural Station was measured at only 3 degrees Celsius on Saturday morning, causing frosts to form on leaves, but officials said the phenomenon is good for winter plants, namely poppy, peach and persimmon. In the mean time, Acting Chief of Chiang Mai's Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office Siripannee Boonmarlik said 25 districts in Chiang Mai had been declared cold-stricken zones due to the continuing drop of temperatures; while authorities concerned were urgently providing help to affected victims, particularly the 30,000 families living in the rural area of Jom Thong district. (TNA)