“This is the strongest wind he has ever seen.”

Heavy rains and strong wind across Phuket yesterday (June 17) have caused trees and power cables to be torn down across the island.

At about noon, a big banyan tree, aged around 100 years, fell down and blocked Narisorn Road in Phuket Town.

56 year old Wuttichart Na Pangchang says, “While I was sweeping garbage in front of my house which is next to the old banyan tree, I heard a very loud noise similar to thunder. Suddenly the banyan tree fell down right next to me. I ran away from the area fearing other trees would come down as well. Luckily nobody was injured and no houses were damaged.”

“I have lived here since I was born. My father who also lived here before me told me that he has never seen a severe storm like this before. This is the strongest wind he has ever seen.”

In other areas strong winds brought down trees, falling on houses and blocking roads in Wichit, Paklok and Kamala. In some areas power poles and cabling was also torn down by the ferocity of the wind.