Strong winds leave many in the dark

PHUKET: Several areas of the island suffered extended blackouts last night after storms knocked down power poles. Worst affected were Phuket Town and Kathu, where power shortages lasted up to two hours. In Kathu, a tree knocked down four power poles on Wichit Songkram Rd near the entrance to Prince of Songkla University. One of the poles crushed a parked pick-up truck. Pol Capt Kittipong Klaykaew of the Tungtong Police Station told the Gazette that the owner of the pick up was unharmed, as he was safely in his home at the time. “Power workers had to work all night to fix the lines,” Capt Kittipong added. This morning, workers from the Provincial Electricity Authority were still repairing damage in a number of places, particularly around Phuket Town.