Death and illness as cold weather embraces nation

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Death and illness as cold weather embraces nation
By The Nation
2011-01-18

The Public Health Ministry confirmed yesterday that at least two people had died in the cold weather - one in Loei and the other in Chiang Rai.

"Victims in this category are people who died because they lacked warm clothes and lived in areas declared as being hit by a cold spell," Public Health Minister Jurin Laksanawisit said.

Jurin said his ministry was checking whether two other deaths in Kalasin and Surin were also due to the cold spell.

In recent days, temperatures have dropped across most of the country.

Influenza, pneumonia, measles, German measles, chickenpox and diarrhoea are usually common in the wake of lower temperatures.

However, the number of people who suffered these diseases over the last two months of last year was down in 15 provinces - at just 18,760 compared to 21,494 in the same period in 2009.

The temperature in Bangkok dropped by one or two degrees Celsius yesterday, according to the Meteorological Department.

In the capital, the mercury ranged between 17 and 19 degrees Celsius during the coolest moments.

The weather bureau said cold weather and strong winds blanketed many parts of the country under the influence of a high-pressure ridge hovering over the upper part of the country and the South China Sea. In the North, frozen dew could be seen on mountains.

In the Northeast, the minimum temperature fluctuated between 10 and 13 degrees Celsius.

In the northeastern province of Loei, the mercury dropped below 0 degrees Celsius in Phu Rua district yesterday morning. The district chief Thanapon Jantornnimi said the cold weather drawn many tourists.

But many of locals needed more warm clothes during the winter, Thanapon said.

The Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, meanwhile, has warned people in southern provinces to beware of monsoon conditions.

"Small fishing trawlers should avoid going out to sea in the Gulf of Thailand," the department's director general Wiboon Sanguanpong said.

Winds would be strong till Thursday, he warned.

Wiboon said people needing help in strong winds or rough sea conditions could call 1784 around the clock.