South escapes as storms clobber rest of country

Thunderstorms ravaged the entire country except the southern provinces yesterday, leaving a farmer dead after he was struck by lightning in Buri Ram. More than 100 students were also left without classrooms in Si Sa Ket.

The storms are likely to much of the country, including the South, as the Meteorological Department warned the storm front will move over most of upper Thailand, including Bangkok, today and into tomorrow.

In Buri Ram, Ian Lokprakon, 62, was struck by lightning while planting rice seedlings in the field near his house in Ban Bat of Prakhon Chai district yesterday morning. He sustained a severe burn and died later at the local hospital, authorities said.

The freak storms also destroyed rice barns and livestock pens in many areas of the district.

In Si Sa Ket, gusty winds swept through the Ban Nong Ithai School in Phrai Bung district, tearing off roofs of the two-storey building. The rain soaked teaching equipment, 20 computers, and flooded classrooms, forcing about 100 students to use the pavilion of an adjacent temple as a study area instead.

In Kalasin, rain and fierce winds struck four districts on Wednesday afternoon and heavy downpour continued yesterday, damaging many homes. A total of 87 houses in Tha Khantho, Huai Mek, Yang Talat and Kham Muang districts were left without roofs, Kalasin governor Kaisorn Kongchalard said after leading officials to inspect the storm-hit areas.

In Nan, heavy rain and hail pounded tambon San in Wiang Sa district on Wednesday night, uprooting several big trees and toppling five power poles. No injuries were reported.

Thep Tangjai, head of Ban Sai Thong in tambon San, said the storm damaged 45 homes and a large patch of crops.

Soldiers and officials from the Nan provincial disaster prevention and mitigation office were sent to survey the damage yesterday morning.

In Phichit, a storm brought strong winds to Dong Charoen district on Wednesday evening, ripping the roofs off 12 houses.

Soldiers were sent to repair the damaged houses in two villages of tambon Huai Ruam yesterday morning.

People were advised to keep away from large trees, billboards and unsecured structures during the storm. The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department said storms had hit 45 districts in 20 provinces from Monday to Wednesday, affecting 1,042 households in 136 villages.