Summer storms damage nearly 300 houses in Thai Northeast

BANGKOK, March 17 (TNA) - Nearly 300 houses have been damaged, following summer storms which struck Thailand’s northeastern provinces of Si Sa Ket and Sakon Nakhon Friday night. In Si Sa Ket, Muang and Khukhan districts were hit by last night's summer storm, particularly the hardest-hit Namkham locality in Muang district. Namkham Mayor Nakhorn Thong Panha said that the strong storm damaged over 200 houses in 10 villages and destroyed over 200 rai of local farmlands, most of which were used to grow chilies, and that big trees and power poles were also knocked down by the storm, blocking many local streets. Nakhorn acknowledged local authorities are surveying damages and delivering immediate assistance to the storm victims. In Khukhan district, the storm also left damages to some 20 houses in four villages of Chakong sub-district. One of a local church was reportedly unroofed due to strong wind. In Sakon Nakhon, another summer storm also barreled through the province last night, damaging some 40 houses in Muang Lai sub-district. Muang Sakon Nakhon district Chief Thawat Siriwattananukul went to inspect damages of the storm and deliver immediate assistance to storm victims. Meanwhile, Permanent Secretary for Public Health M.D. Paichit Warachit cautioned that six groups of people are at risk of fatal heat-related illnesses in the summer, including heat stroke, heat exhaustion, heat cramps and sunburn. According to the senior official, the risk groups include children and elderly who are less able to adapt to high temperatures, people with obesity, people with high blood pressure, people working in warm places and those who are addicted to alcohol. To avoid the heat-related illnesses, M.D. Paichit advised people to drink 1-2 liters of water a day, wear light-colour and loose-fitting clothes and avoid drinking alcohol in the warm weather. (TNA)