A thunderstorm with strong gusts hit Doi Tao district in Chiang Mai on the evening of October 4, damaging homes and bringing large trees down across Highway 1103, the Hot–Doi Tao road, for nearly a kilometre. Nothing could get through.
The worst-hit areas were Ban Wang Mo (Moo 1) and Ban Aen Chatsan (Moo 3) in Ban Aen subdistrict. Power went out across Ban Aen and parts of neighbouring Bong Tan.
Doi Tao district chief Manat Chomphuphuen turned up with the Ban Aen subdistrict administrative organisation (SAO) chief and its council members, a security-affairs deputy district chief, the subdistrict headman, village heads and residents. Together they dragged the fallen trunks and branches off the road. It took about an hour and a half, and traffic was moving normally again afterwards.
Officials also called in the Provincial Electricity Authority’s Doi Tao office to assess and repair the damaged power lines. Local administrations, headmen and village heads were told to survey storm damage to homes and report it to the district office quickly, so that help can reach people without delay.
