Tropical storms ravage Bangkok and several provinces

Tropical torrential rainstorms and hail storms ravaged several northern, northeast and central provinces yesterday and today destroying hundreds of homes, and bringing down power poles, trees and billboards.

The tropical storms were expected to happen until April 9 with a new round of storms predicted during the Songkran festival when another high pressure spell from China is moving in to cover the Southern China, Vietnam and to Thailand’s north, northeast, east and central regions.

In Ang Thong province, torrential rainstorm knocked down several power poles, trees and bill boards along a 20-kilometre stretch of the Asian highway at Kilometre markers 53-63 Wednesday morning.

The fallen trees, branches, power poles and bill boards obstructed traffic on both inbound and outbound lanes, leaving only one lane on the inbound traffic remaining passable.

Highway and provincial authorities with heavy machinery were working hastily this morning to clear the debris to open the section to traffic.

Some petrol stations on the highway have their roofs blown away and ceiling collapsed, forcing some of them to suspend services.

Falling trees and power poles also resulted in one accident when the driver swerved to hit fallen debris but rammed at another vehicle.

In Bangkok, tropical rainstorm hit most part of the capital during the morning rush hours, causing floodings and paralysing traffic on many roads.

Floods was reported on Rajapruek road at the foot of the Rama IV bridge causing traffic jams for several kilometres on the inbound lane.

By 10 am traffic on all inbound roads remained very congested such as Phayothin, Ladprao, Chaengwattana, Bang Na Trat, Ratchadapisek, Ramkhamhaeng, Vibhavadi, Sukhumvit and New Phetburi.

Tropical rainstorms also ravaged hundreds of homes in Khon Kaen and Nakhon Phanom yesterday.

A roof of a sports stadium in Iranian district of Khon Kaen collapsed after it was ravaged by the storm. But there was no injury. However some cars parked nearby were damaged.

Thai PBS

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