Most of Thailand placed on storm alert

As Thailand continues to feel the effects of cyclone Amphan, officials in Bangkok and 62 of Thailand’s 76 provinces have been ordered to monitor for possibilities of flash flooding and other impacts until tomorrow, according to director-general of the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department.

Authorities say 223 households in Nan, Lampang, Kalasin, Surin, Amnat Charoen, and Uthai Thani have already suffered damage from thunderstorms influenced by the wider effects of the huge cyclone, which is centred to the west in the Bay of Bengal and heading north towards the Indian-Bangladeshi coastal areas (map below).

Rated as the Bay of Bengal’s fiercest storm this century, Amphan is bearing down on millions of people in eastern India and Bangladesh, with forecasts of a potentially devastating and deadly storm surge in the low-lying coastal areas.

Authorities continue to scramble to evacuate potentially millions away from the path of Cyclone Amphan. The storm is the second “super cyclone” to form in the north-eastern Indian Ocean since records began.

The effects on Thailand’s weather are not direct but the size of the storm has intensified the south-west monsoon.

The current Thai Meteorological Department warnings cover 13 provinces in the North…

• Mae Hong Son
• Chiang Mai
• Lamphun
• Lampang
• Phrae
• Nan
• Uttaradit
• Tak
• Sukhothai
• Phitsanulok
• Kamphaeng Phet
• Phichit
• Phetchabun

and 18 in the Northeast…

• Loei
• Nong Bua Lam Phu
• Udon Thani
• Nong Khai
• Bueng Kan
• Sakon Nakhon
• Nakhon Phanom
• Chaiyaphum
• Khon Kaen
• Maha Sarakham
• Roi Et
• Yasothon
• Amnat Charoen
• Nakhon Ratchasima
• Buri Ram
• Surin
• Sisaket
• Ubon Ratchathani

It also covers 15 provinces in the Central region…

• Nakhon Sawan
• Uthai Thani
• Ratchaburi
• Kanchanaburi
• Chai Nat
• Suphan Buri
• Nakhon Pathom
• Nonthaburi
• Pathum Thani
• Samut Prakan
• Samut Sakhon
• Samut Songkhram
• Phetchaburi
• Prachuap Khiri Khan
• Nakhon Nayok

Also placed under alert are 7 eastern provinces…

• Prachin Buri
• Sa Kaeo
• Chachoengsao
• Chon Buri
• Rayong
• Chanthaburi
• Trat

and 9 southern provinces…

• Chumphon
• Surat Thani
• Nakhon Si Thammarat
• Phatthalung
• Songkhla
• Ranong
• Phang Nga
• Phuket
• Krabi

Staff have been ordered to prepare for disasters in the eastern provinces and to monitor the weather around the clock, while local government agencies have been told to keep residents updated about the situation.

SOURCE: Nation Thailand