UBON RATCHATHANI, April 4 – Residents in Thailand’s northeastern region have been warned to brace for possible isolated summer storms and related severe weather this weekend.

Kanchit Kongsomkong, director of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office in Ubon Ratchathani, today warned northeastern residents of possible summer storms today through Monday, as well as thunderstorms and gusty wind.

Already 39 houses have been damaged by a torrential storm in Ubon Ratchathani’s Na Chaluai and Nam Yuen districts.

Mr Kanchit told the residents of at-risk areas to avoid going near ungrounded constructions, large trees and billboards for their safety as there is a significant risk of lightning strikes during the storm.

In Maha Sarakham, provincial disaster chief Sitthipol Sa-ngiam said that government workers have been sent to help repair some 130 homes in Nong Kung subdistrict which were damaged by isolated summer thunderstorms and hail last night.

Meanwhile, residents of Lampang province’s Mae Mok and Viang Mok subdistricts have begun cleaning up after some 300 homes were damaged by a hail storm last night.

The roof of the local cooperative office in Huay Ko Klang village in Lampang’s Mae Mok subdistrict blew away in the storm. A large wood processing factory, a telephone phone tower and a 15-metre tree also collapsed damaging earby buildings and blocking roads.

MCOT