Dozens of buildings were damaged by tropical storms which hit northeastern Thailand yesterday (June 8).

The torrential weather battered homes and a school in Nakhon Ratchasima province. Officials said roofs, awnings, electricity posts and trees were damaged, leading to traffic jams and power outages across the area.

Banlang Waithasiri, council chief officer of Pak Thong Chai district together with Thanadej Srinarong, mayor of Tambon Muang Pak visited the affected areas to examine the damage and provide tentative assistance to needy people.

He said: ‘We have assigned related agencies to prioritize area clearance operations to move out trees and ruined electrical poles of the areas to improve traffic conditions and bring back power to households.’

‘Police, emergency team and local related authorities have now been speeding up in providing assistance to stricken residents and rolling out an initiative area renovation plan to the area, especially for the areas that house government buildings, official residences for teachers, schools, public health parks. Both the inside of those buildings and their surrounding area will be renovated as soon as possible with the help from the related agencies.’

‘Damages will be further evaluated to make sure all stricken people can access help.’

Thai Meteorological Department said low pressure from northern Vietnam will bring an increased risk of heavy rain.

Fishermen around the Andaman sea and the Gulf of Thailand have also been urged to take precautions against the storms.

Thailand and other countries in Southeast Asia such as Malaysia, Indonesia and the Philippines are at the start of their tropical monsoon rainy season, which lasts until October. Soaring temperatures reaching 35 degrees Celsius are often followed by powerful tropical storms with thunder, lightning, rain and flash floods.