A man died after five people were struck by lightning while celebrating Sonkgran in the northeastern province of Buri Ram on Sunday and more bad weather is on the way as a tropical storm carves its way across the country, police and Meteorological Department officials said.
The North, Northeast, Central Plains, Bangkok and its vicinity will be rattled by a new storm until tomorrow, the department warned yesterday.
Strong winds, hail and lightning can be expected, it said, adding the storm was produced by a high pressure ridge moving down from China that clashed with Thailand's hot and humid weather.
Parts of the country began feeling the impact from late Sunday afternoon.
Meanwhile, police said five people who were celebrating the Thai New Year holiday near the Tambon Non Dindaeng Administration Organisation in Non Dindaeng district of Buri Ram were rushed to hospital on Sunday after being hit by lighting but Worawut Boonkong, 24, died.
Witnesses said the group was splashing water from a vehicle parked under a big tree during a thunderstorm when disaster struck.
In Sakhon Nakhon's Sawang Daen Din district, stormy winds and pelting rain left over 50 houses and buildings damaged, also on Sunday.
Elsewhere in the region, over 30 houses in Surin's Chom Phra district were damaged by strong winds.
Sae Kaeo province reported more than 10 destroyed houses in Watthana Nakhon district from Sunday night.
