Thailand: Tropical storm Sinlaku left more than 2,000 families homeless

BANGKOK, Aug 3 -- More than 2,000 families have been left homeless after tropical storm Sinlaku hit the northern and northeastern provinces in Thailand. 

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, in a statement, said Sinlaku brought strong winds and heavy rain – destroying about 1,400 houses and damaging the roads in 10 provinces in the north and northeastern areas of Thailand. 

It said the provinces badly hit by floods included Nan, Uttaradit, Lampang, Phayao, Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai in the North, and Loei, Nong Bua Lamphu, Udon Thani and Nakhon Phanom in the Northeast. 

The report said the windstorm hit eight provinces – two in the northeast and six in the south, and damaged 672 houses and a school. 

It also said two  people died - one in Phuket and one in Nakhon Si Thammarat - due to fallen trees.  

Meanwhile, Thailand Meteorological Department issued a weather alert and said Sinlaku is expected to bring heavy rains to at least 44 provinces in the kingdom, mostly in the northern and northeastern areas, until Tuesday. 

The storm is slowly moving west towards Myanmar starting today, the department said. 

Director-general of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department Chayapol Thitisak said the flood situation in the north and northeast are improving.

“Some roads were damaged especially in the north due landslide and flash floods,” he said in a statement.

-- BERNAMA