CHIANG MAI, Jan 15 (TNA) – Thailand's lower northern province of Uttaradit declared nine districts 'cold spell disaster zones' while the authorities in Chiang Mai distributed warm clothing to residents affected by the unusually cold weather.
Uttaradit governor Thawatchai Fangangkul said the current cold wave is the worst in ten years with average temperatures at 6-8 degrees Celcius. The province declared nine districts the cold spell disaster zones to seek budget to help villagers.
A nine-year-old girl was found dead Thursday morning due to weak immunity from the cold. The girl who suffered from HIV AIDS was spending the night at the ground in front of Uttaradit’s municipality office to keep warm. Her father believed the cold wave aggravated her condition.
Meanwhile, the disaster prevention and response centre in Chiang Mai province further north on Thursday began distributing winter clothing and blankets in 14 districts.
Prajon Pratsakul, an official of Chiang Mai's Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Centre said the temperature in the province has hovered around 11 degrees Celcius for two days and the minimum temperature on local mountaintops was recorded at two degrees Celcius, the lowest in the past year.
The office was given a budget of Bt26 million to provide 70,000 blankets and 40,000 winter jackets for local residents. It earlier distributed 291,114 winter items to help 64 per cent of locals affected by the cold spell.
The unusual cold weather can cause illness related to respiratory system and blood circulation particularly the elderly, said Asst.Prof. Dr. Wattana Nawacharoen, director of Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital.
In Ubon Ratchatani, school children in Warin Chamrap district had class in the sun and exercised to stay warm.
In the southern province of Phattalung, wild macaques migrated from the mountains to stay near geysers at Kao Chia Son to escape the unusual cold weather. (TNA)
General News : Last Update : 12:52:04 15 January 2009 (GMT+7:00)
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