Heavy summer storms cause chaos across Korat

NAKHON RATCHASIMA: Heavy storms wreaked havoc on private property and hospitals and triggered blackouts and traffic chaos across several districts of this province yesterday.

The storms, which started at 3.15am, caused damage to the Suranaree Technology University Hospital.

Windows in the front building were shattered and dozens of trees around the hospital were toppled. At the second gate, trees fell across power lines, bringing down 10 power poles.

On the city’s ring road, many vehicles overturned and blocked traffic. About 20 people were reported injured.

In the afternoon, another storm lashed Moo 9 village in tambon Thai Samakkhi of Wang Nam Khieo district. Lightning struck a tree which set fire to a wooden house near it.

Fire engines from Thai Samakkhi tambon administration organisation put out the blaze in 15 minutes, but the house was destroyed. The damage was estimated at one million baht.

Nobody was in the house as the owners were working at Thai Samakkhi market at the time.

Yesterday morning, a 20-wheel lorry ran up onto the footpath on a bend and brought down five electricity poles and a tree, causing chaos in downtown Nakhon Ratchasima.

The lorry came to a halt blocking the left side of Thao Sura road in Muang district at the bend in front of Wat Sala Loie. The area was blacked out and traffic brought to a complete standstill.

The driver, Chai Yaiklang, 66, told police he was heading for Phimai district to pick up a load of sand but lost control of the vehicle on the bend as the road was wet from the storm earlier.