Nine people have been killed and 10 hurt by summer thunderstorms that ravaged 49 provinces across the country over the past month, a senior disaster prevention official said.
Since April 1, a total of 1,768 villages in 310 districts of 49 provinces had been hit by seasonal storms that damaged 21,380 houses, two schools, five temples and three government offices, Chatchai Promlert, director-general of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office, said on Tuesday.
The series of storms had claimed nine lives and caused injuries to 10 people, affecting 15 provinces in the North, 14 in the Central Plains, 18 in the Northeast, and two in the East, Thai media reported on Tuesday.
The Meteorological Department forecast was for heavy rain, gusty winds and hailstones in some areas in the upper part of the country today and tomorrow and again from May 7 to 8, said Mr Chatchai.
Provincial disaster prevention and mitigation offices had been ordered on full alert around the clock during these periods.
In Nakhon Phanom, a storm brought strong winds that pounded Renu Nakhon district on Monday evening, damaging 20 houses and knocking down several big trees.
Harn Khamkornluecha, 65, resident of tambon Phon Thong in Renu Nakhon district, said the roof of his house was blown away just 10 minutes after a storm struck his community.
The provincial disaster prevention and mitigation office on Tuesday reported that at least 550 houses in 10 districts had been damaged by seasonal storms in Nakhon Phanom over the past two weeks. Worst hit were That Phanom and Na Wa districts.