Cold weather sweeps north Thailand

Tens of thousands of residents in north and northeast Thailand have been warned to brace for cold weather, as temperatures also continue to drop in the central and eastern part of the country. December is usually considered as the coldest month in Thailand. During the past weekend, temperatures in Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Phitsanulok, Si Sa Ket and other provinces in the north fell lower than 10 degree Celsius. Six districts of Chiang Mai were declared disaster zones. Villagers along the Thai-Cambodian border in Si Sa Ket were seen gathering together with their pets to get warmth from campfire. The local disaster prevention and response centre, representatives of the Thai-Chinese Chamber of Commerce and the Chaozhou Association in Thailand on Monday distributed 300 baht in financial assistance to 500 people affected by the cold and donated 3,000 blankets to the poor, handicapped, the elderly and children from ethnic minority groups. In the capital city of Bangkok, central Thailand, the temperature also shows a quick drop. The rare cool weather has prompted many residents to put on long-sleeve shirts. Meanwhile, the southeastern coast and the Gulf of Thailand is expected to encounter days of heavy rain and strong wind inflicted by the monsoon, the Southern Region Meteorological Centre said on Monday. Residents and ships are warned of flash floods and high tides.