Songkhla declares coastline disaster Area

SONGKHLA, Dec 24 (TNA) - Strong costal winds and powerful waves in the Gulf of Thailand pummeled the Singha Nakhon shoreline in Songkhla province, destroying dozens of homes and forcing the province to declare the area a natural disaster zone. Wasan Chaithaweewong, the acting head of the Songkhla Disaster Prevention and Mitigation office reported on the heavy sea conditions in the Gulf of Thailand which has resulted in massive waves smashing Singha Nakhon district for the past week. Twenty homes have been completely destroyed and 52 families had to be evacuated. Songkhla province has announced the area an emergency disaster zone to accelerate assistance to affected residents. Preliminary 33,000 Baht compensation payment for destroyed homes has been approved as well as other provisional aid packages to help victims. (TNA)