Severe storm hits Phatthalung, leaving homes roofless

A severe storm hit Phatthalung, causing significant damage to homes and property. Strong winds, referred to as a Lom Hua Duan by locals, and heavy rain devastated the area, leaving at least 14 homes roofless and five homes completely destroyed.

Yesterday evening, strong gusts of wind combined with heavy rainfall struck the Khuan Sawaeng village in Khok Sai subdistrict, Pa Bon district, Phatthalung province. The storm caused extensive damage to the community, with fierce winds tearing off roofs and heavy rain adding to the havoc.

The aftermath saw local officials, including the Khok Sai Sub-district Administrative Organisation (SAO), village headmen, and community leaders, swiftly mobilise to assess the damage and provide urgent assistance to affected residents.

Komjak Saengsiw, the village headman of Khok Sai, confirmed that 14 families had their roofs blown away, while an additional four families lost their entire homes. Besides residential damage, the storm also wreaked havoc on local agricultural areas, including rubber plantations, fruit orchards, and salak gardens in the same village. The extent of the damage is still being evaluated, with reports being prepared for the district and provincial officials.

Dejnatep Khaothong, the President of the Khok Sai SAO, stated that upon receiving reports of the storm, a team of officials, including municipal repair crews and skilled locals, was quickly assembled to provide immediate relief. They prioritised homes with partial roof damage, ensuring temporary fixes so that families could have shelter for the night.

Comprehensive repairs for homes that lost their roofs entirely will start today, as some structural components were carried away by the wind and will require more time and resources to replace, reported KhaoSod.

“The storm lasted only 20 minutes, but the winds were incredibly strong, followed by heavy rain,” remarked a local affected by the storm.

In related news, a heavy storm caused the roof of a commercial building’s parking area to collapse, damaging several vehicles and cutting off electricity near Phra Nang Klao Hospital. Emergency teams are working to clear debris and restore power.