Lightning strike blasts Chon Buri restaurant during storm
Flash damages power lines, restroom and appliances
A restaurant in Chon Buri was damaged when lightning struck during a thunderstorm, splitting a tree, damaging property, and causing a brief power outage.
A violent thunderstorm in Takhian Tia, Chon Buri, caused chaos yesterday, November 12, after lightning struck the rooftop toilet of a well-known restaurant, Krua Tee Lek Khao Pa. The strike caused significant property damage, but luckily, no injuries were reported.
The bolt hit during a heavy downpour around 2pm, with witnesses describing an intense flash of light resembling “tree roots in the sky,” followed by a deafening blast that rattled homes nearby.
Reporters visiting the scene at 40/24 Ban Noen Krabok found the lightning had first struck a tall coconut tree behind the restaurant. The surge travelled down the tree, split it in two, and then continued into the building, shattering the restroom roof and scattering ceramic tiles across the premises.
Inside the restaurant’s dining area, electrical outlets were ripped from the walls, kitchen appliances were damaged, and the external electricity meter was destroyed. The incident left the popular eatery without power for several hours.
Restaurant owner, 35 year old Hattachai “Tee Lek” Kaewsuwan, described the terrifying moment.
“I was inside when I heard the explosion and saw a flash behind the kitchen. Then I saw the tree split and the restroom roof blown apart. Luckily, no one was in there.”
A male customer who declined to be named said he had parked his car less than 5 metres from the strike. He reported hearing the thunder followed by a powerful blast that made him feel a wave of pressure.
“It felt like a wall of air hit me.”
He said he believed sacred amulets and a blessed coin from Wat Kositaram and Susaan Trailak in Lampang had shielded him from harm.
Emergency teams from the Provincial Electricity Authority arrived swiftly to restore power, allowing the restaurant to reopen for dinner service after temporary repairs, The Pattaya News reported.
Local meteorologists confirmed that the storm produced multiple cloud-to-ground lightning strikes across Takhian Tia and surrounding districts, with this restaurant strike being the most severe in terms of structural impact.
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