New wave of cold spell hits Thai North, Northeast

THAI NORTH/NORTHEAST, January 12 (TNA) - Another high-pressure mass has blanketed Thailand's upper parts, causing a cold spell in many provinces in the country's northern and northeastern regions, while part of local people have suffered from respiratory illnesses. In northern resort Chiang Mai Province, all 25 districts have been already declared cold-stricken areas, affecting about 1.97 million people, as local temperatures have been below 15 degrees Celsius for more than three days, with the lowest temperature at six degrees Celcius measured in Mae Chaem and Galyani Vadhana Districts. Concerned authorities are, thus, distributing winter gear to affected people, as weathermen have predicted that temperatures should further drop by 4-6 degrees Celcius in upper Thailand from January 13-17. In Uttaradit Province in the Lower Thai North, all its nine districts have been declared cold-stricken areas and nearly 80,000 people now need winter gear. In Phichit Province, also in the Lower Thai North, where there were thunderstorms a few days ago and temperatures have dropped to 15-16 degrees, about 55,000 households in all 12 districts need winter gear. In Khon Kaen Province in the Thai Northeast, where the temperature was measured 15 degrees Celcius on Monday morning, about 200,000 people in 12 districts have been affected, prompting public and private agencies to have handed out about 20,000 blankets, but locals need about 180,000 more blankets. In Sakon Nakhon Province, also in the Thai Northeast, temperatures have fallen to about 14 degrees Celcius following two days of continual downpours, causing local hospitals to have treated more respiratory and asthma patients, especially children and the elderly. (TNA)