SAMUT PRAKAN: Many houses in several housing estates were damaged by whirlwinds which swept through Phra Pradaeng district of this coastal province South of Bangkok on Monday evening.
Starting about 6pm, whirlwinds hit The District and other housing estates in Soi Suksawat 76 in tambon Bang Chak.
The violent windstorm toppled many trees, which fell onto houses and brought down electrical wires. "Tens of houses" were reported damaged and at least seven cars.
Objects large and small were snatched up and sent whirling through the sky, and finally falling to the ground in residential areas when the storm subsided. They included a large iron sheet weighing about 100 kilogrammes.
Suntree Posrithong, 40, said when the storm started she ran into her house and shut all the doors and windows.
It felt like the house was being shaken by someone with enormous strength and debris kept falling on the roof, making loud threatening noises. The roof of her house was damaged.
Athit Chon-arunpadarat, 33, said his house was in the middle of the windstorm. He was watching TV when he heard what sounded like rainstorm moving in. He went outside and saw two whirlwinds spinning over the area. So he rushed upstairs to take a video from the window. The wall, ceiling and roof of his house were damaged. All the windows shattered, he said.
Damage assessment was still underway on Tuesday.
