Fishing boats and homes damaged in storm

Seeking refuge at Muang district Wat Ao Noi yesterday, the 47-year-old squid-fisherman Jirayu Sawanchana and his 19-year-old son felt thankful for their decision to grab plasic gallons as buoy and jump out in time when the 2am storm with ravaging five-meter-high waves hit their fishing boat. They managed to swim ashore at Ao Noi Bay but the boat was totally destroyed. "I thought our boat would be just floating somewhere in the sea for us to retrive later, so I suddenlt felt weak in the knees when I saw pieces of broken boards and our boat sign name "Lor Chok-ariya" were swept onto the beach. We used this boat to make a living and now we have nothing. I don't know what to do next. I just keep telling my son that we are lucky that we survive," he added.

Muang district saw 132 homes affected, while Sam Roi Yod district had 101 home affected, Thab Sakae district had 86 homes affected, Bang Saphan Noi district had 21 homes affected, Bang Saphan district had 21 homes affected and Hua Hin had two homes affected. Fifty-three fishing boats in Muang district were affected. Provincial govonor Weera Sriwattanatrakul said the local administrative organisations would aid the affected homes and boats (each fishing boat woudl get Bt10,000 assistant money) hence urged the affected residents to register the damages with the officials.