Electricity, rainwater make for fiery mix

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Heavy rains proved again the law that water and electricity don’t mix.

An Oct. 12 storm knocked out power and silenced telephone landlines even as many streets were submerged with flood water.

Wires near the Pikanet Market in Soi Phaneadchang burst into flames, effecting thousands of people on the east side of Sukhumvit Road. Repair crews from the Provincial Electrical Authority and cable-television carriers scrambled to restore service.

Dangling wires, allegedly ignored by utility companies, caught fire and burned during a recent storm.Dangling wires, allegedly ignored by utility companies, caught fire and burned during a recent storm.

About 500 meters of cables had been hanging down in a tangled mess, as so often is the case. As so many residents predicted – and ignored by utility companies – the jumbles of wires easily cross, short-circuit and burn during storms.