Heavy Rain Causes Electric Poles to Fall and Almost Hit People

Nakhon si thammarat: Heavy rain and strong winds knocked down electric poles, causing a power outage throughout the city. A woman recounted her near-death experience when she rode her motorcycle past a transformer that collapsed in front of her and burst into flames. If she had driven faster, she would have been burned. According to Thai News Agency, at 3:30 p.m. yesterday, heavy rain and strong winds occurred in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province on Thet Phra Kiat Road in Mueang District. High-voltage power poles were broken on both sides of the road, from Thet Phra Kiat Intersection to Andaman Intersection, over a distance of more than 1 km. Dozens of high-voltage power poles fell, crushing cars and damaging buildings, shops, and commercial structures. Residents in commercial buildings, roadside noodle shops, and coffee shops were shocked by the incident. In one coffee shop, an employee was shocked and lost consciousness, prompting rescue workers to rush him to Maharat Nakhon Si Thammarat Hospital. Meanwhile, t he Provincial Electricity Authority cut off the power and closed the area to urgently restore the power grid. The young woman who was the victim was riding her motorcycle when a high-voltage electric pole fell in front of her at close range, allowing her to narrowly escape death. She stated that while riding, she encountered both strong wind and rain before the electric pole fell in front of her eyes, exploded with a loud bang, shook the area, and burst into flames. After the electric pole fell, electricity was cut off in almost the entire city. In several districts, especially Tha Sala District, the roofs of many houses were blown off by the wind. Orchards belonging to villagers were damaged, causing widespread destruction. Similarly, in Chawang Subdistrict Municipality, Chawang District, severe gusts of wind lasting less than 10 minutes severely affected both trees and villagers' houses. The force of the wind toppled trees along almost every road. Some trees, large enough to withstand the wind's force, w ere torn into pieces. Additionally, dozens of boat houses had their roofs blown off by the wind. Some old houses could not withstand the strong wind and collapsed. Many people are suffering from the damage, and disaster prevention and relief officers from Chawang Municipality have come to assist. Meanwhile, the electricity authority had to temporarily stop providing electricity due to the damage, and officers are now being mobilized to restore the system.