Residents point to what’s left of 81-year-old Muan Jitkawan’s house.
Boonlua Chatree
Storms that rode an unseasonably cold weather system
into Pattaya last week sank boats, damaged houses and left people
shivering in some of the coldest March days in memory.
Three fishing boats moored at the old Naklua Market
and three ferries in Pattaya all sank amid high winds and seas in the
March 16 storm. Waves up to 2 meters tall washed away beach chairs and
umbrellas, causing more than 2 million baht damage.
The storm system was the leading edge of a cold front
pushed out of Siberia by a high-pressure system above China.
Temperatures plunged from more than 30 degrees March 16 to the upper
teens, sending Thais scrambling for scarves and parkas and even
long-time expats ditching their shorts and t-shirts for trousers and
sweatshirts.
With another cold snap expected this week, the
Pattaya Marine Office was alerting boat owners to pay close attention to
flags that determine how many passengers boats can carry. During “red
flag” conditions, boats carrying 150 passengers normally must cap loads
at 100 guests.
Marine rescue officials noted there are only 42
personnel spread out over the Pattaya-Naklua-Jomtien Beach area and not
all are available for work at the same time. With few applicants for
open jobs, the marine rescue unit must work diligently on prevention of
accidents, rather than having to respond to them.
Damage wasn’t confined the sea, however. Two houses
on Naklua Beach were swamped by waves.
Muan Jitkawan, 81, said he and six others had been
sleeping when the storm blew down their wooden shack. He estimated
damage at 100,000 baht.
Deputy Mayor Wutisak Rermkitkarn visited Muan and
62-year-old Bunmee Bun-A-nan, whose house was also damaged, and donated
20,000 and bags of relief supplies to each the following day.
