Local residents and houses hit by unusually high waves
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Villagers of two villages in Nakhon Si Thammarat's Pak Panang district decided to dismantle their houses and move to a new location after high waves hit the site and destroyed some neighbouring houses.
They are now considering assembling their residences in a nearby protected forest although they are well aware that this is illegal. They said they have no choice and they would stay only on a temporary basis.
The high waves hit many seaside southern provinces on Sunday, spreading panic among locals who were reminded of the 2004 deadly tsunami.
The unusual weather event occurred just one day before the seventh anniversary of the tsunami, the giant tidal waves that hit Thailand's coast in 2004 killing thousands of people and shocking the whole country.
Nakhon Si Thammarat is among the provinces that were hit by the high waves. The others were Chumphon, Phetchaburi, Prachuab Khiri Khan and Songkhla.
Local residents in Nakhon Si Thammarat were still in a state of panic on Monday as the wind remained strong and the waves high.
This morning, residents were seen jointly dismantling and moving their houses to higher ground. Some of the houses were damaged by the high waves.
Provincial officials and the army deployed their personnel to help with the move.
Saravuth Plaiduang of Laem Talumplug precinct said that he decided to dismantle his house as a preventive measure.
Some residents earlier refused to move their houses, not believing that they would hit by the high currents. Their houses were totally destroyed, he said.
"With nowhere to stay, some homeless residents decided to erect their houses in a protected forest near the area. Saravuth said they knew that it would be illegal to do so but they had no choice."
