A six-year-old girl was killed when a large weeping fig (Ficus benjamina) tree fell onto the family home in Phrae province during summer storms, which also struck Phetchabun and Chiang Rai provinces last night, causing blackouts and uprooting trees.
In the Tao Pun sub-district of Song district in Phrae, strong winds and hail struck Ban Pa Daeng village, causing the century-old weeping fig tree to crush the house as it fell.
Officials from the Tao Pun Tambon (sub-district) Administrative Organisation and villagers rushed to the house to remove the fallen tree and rush the girl to the district hospital, but she was pronounced dead on arrival.
Several houses in four villages in Nam Nao district were also damaged by hail yesterday afternoon.
In Chiang Rai province, strong winds and heavy rain struck several districts, including the Mueang district where several power poles fell, causing widespread blackouts.
Numerous uprooted trees and power poles fell across the Wiang Burapha Road, blocking the traffic. Heavy machinery was used to clear the debris from the now reopened road.
District officials said that the rain has, however, helped to reduce air pollution in the district and the PM2.5 status has reduced from red to yellow for the first time in two months.
