CHIANG MAI: Summer storms and hail damaged hundreds of properties in four districts of this northern province on Saturday despite the air force deploying planes to seed silver iodide to curb hail, according…
The local office of the Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation reported on Sunday that hailstorms hit 17 tambon in Mae Rim, Muang, San Kanphaeng and San Sai on Saturday.
In Mae Rim, Summer storms struck Huai Sai, Khee Lek, Sa Luang, Mae Ram, Rim Nuea, Rim Tai and San Pong, damaging both private and public property. Trees, power poles and billboards fell across roads.
In Muang Chiangmai, hailstorms damaged houses and farmland in Suthep. Power poles collapsed onto roads and caused vast blackouts in Fa Ham. More houses were damaged in Mae Hia and Nong Hoi.
In San Kamphaeng, sugar palm trees were blown down in San Kamphaeng and damaged vehicles and garages.
In Sansai, trees fell onto high-voltage wires and roads in San Phra Net, Blackouts occurred in San Sai Noi and Mae Faek Mai. Two power poles were felled in Nong Han sub-district.
Meanwhile, RAdm Prapas Sonjaidee, spokesman for the fir force, said it had this month deployed refurbished Alpha Jet planes from Wing 41 in Chiang Mai to seed silver iodide in rainclouds to stimulate rain and thus curb hail in the northern province.
Sush missions were risky for pilots because they had to fly into storms, he said.
