Si Racha badly flooded with some cars floating away in floodwaters. Chonburi’s Si Racha district was heavily flooded after 3 hours of torrential rain with some cars floating away in floodwaters while a new storm warning was issued. – Thai Newsroom

Si Racha badly flooded with some cars floating away in floodwaters

April 30, 2023  TNR Staff

THREE HOURS of heavy rain this morning (Apr. 30) led to many areas of Chonburi's Si Racha district being damaged with cars seen floating away in floodwaters, Thai Rath newspaper said.

At around noon reporters in this district said the torrential rain had also toppled trees with some falling heavily on cars damaging them.

Rescuers of Sawang Prateep Sriracha Foundation were alerted of  a man trapped in his car that had plunged into a canal in Surasak subdistrict and went there in a boat to help him.

The trapped man, later identified as Mr. Sarawut Phromsutra, 36, said he had followed GPS directions into this alley amid heavy rain. However he lost control of the vehicle with the floodwaters sweeping his vehicle into the canal.

He added that he tried but failed to get out of his car but luckily was not injured.

A team from Si Racha Municipality's Disaster Prevention Office then came with a chainsaw and cut the tree thus freeing him.

Meanwhile the Thai Meteorological Department issued a warning for people in the upper part of the country to beware of severe weather conditions brought on by summer storms from today to tomorrow (Apr. 30-May 1).

They were advised to stay away from open areas, big trees, flimsy billboards, not wear metal ornaments and avoid using a mobile phone during thunderstorms. Farmers should take steps to prevent crop and livestock damage.

These storms, which could be accompanied with gusty winds, hail and lightning, are being triggered by a high-pressure system covering upper Thailand and the South China Sea while stronger southeasterly winds are bringing humidity from the Gulf of Thailand.

Meanwhile easterly winds blowing through the Gulf of Thailand and the Andaman Sea will trigger thunderstorms to the South with waves being a metre high but during a storm higher than that. All ships should proceed with caution.

Bangkok and outlying provinces will also likely be hit by thunderstorms and isolated hail falls. Minimum temperature will be 26-28 °C. while maximum temperature 32-33 °C. Southeasterly winds are at 10-20 km/hr.