Cold snap remains in Thai North, Northeast

BANGKOK, December 13 (TNA) - Thailand's seasonal cold snap has remained in the northern and northeastern regions, affecting locals. In the northern Chiang Rai Province, for instance, temperatures have been falling to below 10 degree Celsius on mountaintops and about 20 degree Celsius in lower areas. Chiang Rai's provincial disaster prevention and mitigation office has, therefore, advised motorists to reduce speeds and turn on headlights while driving due to slippery roads caused by thick fog, which has also reduced visibility to only about 50 metres on every road in Mae Fah Luang District. In adjacent Chiang Mai Province, people have also been affected by a cold spell, coupled with haze in several areas, especially on the Chiang Mai-Hang Dong route, prompting motorists to turn on headlights and to drive more carefully, while locals are wearing face masks to prevent impacts from the spreading haze. In the northeastern Buriram Province, temperatures have dropped to about 17 degree Celsius with thick fog covering all provincial areas in the morning, prompting local authorities to have set up cold mitigation centres in 23 districts to assist affected locals. Doctors and nurses from Buriram Hospital have also provided medical check-ups and morning exercises for the elderly at a local welfare centre to keep them healthy and to reduce the risk of their illnesses. Donations for thick clothes, jackets and blankets for the over 100 elderly at the centre are welcome. Meanwhile, the Meteorological Department has warned that the westerly trough from Myanmar is covering Thailand's upper parts over the next 3-4 days, causing thundershowers and strong wind in some areas, and temperatures will then abruptly drop by 6-8 degree Celsius next week. Chatchai Phromlert, Director-General of the Ministry of Interior's Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, has asked officials in 29 provinces in the Thai North, Northeast and upper parts of the central region to be on alert to prevent and cope with impacts of coming storms, with possible hailstones, and a cold spell to be affected local people. (TNA)