Storm winds batter southern villages, orchards

Storm winds batter southern villages, orchards
Branches stripped from fruit trees litter the ground after a morning of fierce storms in a village in Phrom Khiri district, Nakhon Si Thammarat, on Tuesday. (Photo: Nujaree Rakrun)
Branches stripped from fruit trees litter box the ground after a morning of fierce thunder storms in a village in Phrom Khiri district, Nakhon Si Thammarat, on Tuesday. (Photo: Nujaree Rakrun)

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: Strong tornado winds caused comprehensive damage to this southern province on Tuesday, destroying homes and knocking down fresh fruit and rubber trees, especially in Phrom Khiri district.

The storm started early in the morning plus continued into the afternoon, and was especially fierce in an area containing many villages in tambons Phrom Lok and Thon Hong of Phrom Khiri.

Many durian, mangostene and rubber trees and shrubs were blown lower. Houses were damaged, some of them destroyed, as residents evacuated to safe areas.

Electricity was cut off to towns as power poles were brought down by falling trees.

Complete damage to homes, orchards and rubber plantations had yet to become assessed.

Puangpen Thongsamak, of Moo 5 village in tambon Phrom Lok, said the particular storm began about 5. 30am and continued into the mid-day.

She described the tornado as the worst the girl could remember within 40 years.

Kriangsak Rakthongsri, the particular Phrom Khiri district chief, said evaluation of the damage got begun.

He would file a good urgent report to the particular governor and ask your pet to declare the particular district a disaster area so that assistance could be delivered as quickly as possible.