Natural disasters cause damage in many Thai provinces

LAMPANG, THAILAND, May 7 (TNA) - Apart from impacts from a powerful earthquake which struck the Thai North earlier this week, rainstorms have damaged houses and buildings in many provinces. A flash flood happened in the northern Lampang Province on early Wednesday morning and damaged locals’ belongings and valuables. Flood levels ranged from 30-100 centimeters in two sub-districts of Lampang's Muang District. The floodwater also inundated about 10 locations on Lampang-Muang Pan-Chae Son National Park Road. In the central Ayutthaya Province, a storm damaged glass panes, walls and merchandise at an one-tambon-one-product (OTOP) building at the Loyalty Memorial in Thung Hantra area. The storm also levelled a Thai-styled building model there. In Prachin Buri Province in the Thai East, a rainstorm caused floods in many areas in Muang District and damaged 82 houses in Hua Wa Sub-district in Si Maha Phot District. Meanwhile, Caretaker Interior Minister Charupong Ruangsuwan discussed immediate assistance for earthquake victims with governors of 14 affected northern provinces through a video conference. Authorities attending the tele-conference include those in Kamphaeng Phet, Phitsanulok, Tak, Sukhothai, Uttaradit, Phetchabun, Lampang, Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Mae Hong Son, Chiang Rai, Nan, Phayao and Phrae Provinces. Permanent Secretary for Interior Wiboon Sanguanpong also told governors of Chiang Rai, Chiang Mai, Phayao, Phrae and Nan Provinces to monitor the updated situation closely and to urgently assist quake victims. Disaster prevention and mitigation officials in Phang-nga Province in the Thai South are, in the meantime, on standby as the province also stands on a fault line. (TNA)