NAN/PHRAE — Twenty-two cows and pigs died from lightning strikes, hundreds of homes were damaged and an elderly woman killed in her orchard when summer thunderstorms struck several districts in Nan and Phrae on Monday night.
In Nan, at Nithakorn farm in tambon Muang Chang, a total of 18 cows were killed when lightning hit their pen in Phu Phiang district. Farmer Padung Phetdin, 53, said the storm cost him more than 500,000 baht.
Lightning bolts also struck a pig farm in nearby tambon Nanao in the same district, killing four pigs and injuring several others.
Thoon Nusupa, 66, kamnan of tambon Thanao and owner of the pig farm, said the thunderstorm brought heavy rain and hit the district while he was feeding his pigs. Lightning struck the big trees behind the pig pens at least 10 times.
After rain stopped, he surveyed the damage to his farm . Four pigs were dead and seven others were convulsing. Several pigs were also clearly in pain, the sub-district chief said.
Pundit Witthayan, chairman of tambon Thanao administration organisation, said Mr Thoon’s pig farm was the largest in his community, with more than 600 pigs. Lightning strikes killed and injured animals in three pens at the farm, said Mr Pundit.
A storm also caused damage to 54 houses and 14 crop fields in Chiang Klang district.
In Phrae, soldiers sent to survey the storm damage at seven villages in Den Chai and Wang Chin districts reported 514 houses in Den Chai district were damaged.
In Wang Chin district, 89 houses and a school were damaged, with many roofs blown away by the storms.
In Den Chai district, a woman, Singha Prachuap, 60, was found dead at her orchard. She had taken refuge in a small shelter that collapsed on top of her during the storm.
Many trees were reported to have been toppled along about 5 kilometres of a road in Den Chai district. There were widespread blackouts in several villages in the district starting about 8pm on Monday.
A woman shows the roof of her house in Phrae blown away by a storm on Monday night. (Photo by Taweesak Sukkasem)
Four pigs lie dead and seven others injured after their pen was hit by lightning on Monday night. (Photo by Rarinthorn Petcharoen)