Seasonal storms hit Thai South

KRABI, THAILAND, May 29 (TNA) - Seasonal rain storms hit the Thailand's southern Andaman resort province twice over the past hours, damaging nearly 400 houses and over 1,000 rais of rubber plantations (2.5 rai=1 acre). A rubber grower said on Monday that the storms, the first was reported on Sunday and the second Monday morning, had fallen thousands of 10-year-rubber trees. According to Krabi's disaster prevention and mitigation office, the storms hit Muang, Klongtom, Lamtub and Kaopanom districts, as well as Lanta Island; while local officials are providing urgent assistance to affected people and are assessing subsequent losses. In adjacent Patthalung province, the Klong Chalerm locality of Kong Ra district has earlier been declared disaster zone after it was severely hit by a seasonal storm on Sunday. Other districts in Phattalung, including Muang, Kuan Kanun, Bang kaeo and Tamode, had also been hit by storms, with affected residents having not yet accessed to assistance. (TNA)