14 Of Thailand’s Most Catastrophic Natural Disasters Staff Writer 24th March 2016 Thailand Travel Guides indian ocean tsunami thailand natural disasters
We learned yesterday that a nifty little thunderstorm may be heading Bangkok’s way this weekend.
Most of us will be welcoming a dose of rain with open arms after the oppressive heat and humidity of the last few weeks, not to mention the crippling droughts that have affected much of the rest of the country.
But although this thunderstorm shouldn’t cause too much worry, it’s undeniable that Thailand has always had a tumultuous relationship with unpredictable weather and, thanks to its geographic profile, has been hit by a number of catastrophic weather disasters over the years.
The biggest threats to Thailand weather-wise are droughts and floods; at their highest intensity, they can cause utter devastation, wipe out entire villages and even kill.
Here’s a chronological history of some of the worst weather disasters to hit Thailand in its recent past.
OCTOBER 1962: TROPICAL STORM HARRIET
Where: Nakhon Si Thammarat
thailand natural disasters tropical storm harriet
The path of Tropical Storm Harriet at 6 hour intervals
The weather system that would eventually become Tropical Storm Harriet started life off the coast of the Philippines before strengthening into a tropical storm 6 days later, making landfall in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. 60 mile/hour winds saw entire villages wiped out in Laem Talumphuk, with over 10,000 people made homeless and an approximate 935 deaths, according to the Thai Meteorological Department.
NOVEMBER 1988: LANDSLIDES
Where: Nakhon Si Thammarat
Landslides, usually prompted by intense flash flooding, are one of the most dangerous natural disasters facing Thailand thanks to the diverse topography of the country. Attention was brought to this threat during November 1988 when flooding and subsequent landslides plagued Ban Kathun Nuea, Phiphun and Ban Khiri Wong districts in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. Damages totalling ฿1 billion were recorded as well as 230 injuries and deaths.
NOVEMBER 1989: TYPHOON GAY
Where: Provinces near the Gulf of Thailand
typhoon gay thailand
Some of the damage caused by Typhoon Gay in Chumpon (by H. Pollmeier)
Typhoon Gay, also referred to as the Kavali Cyclone of 1989, caused 833 deaths and ฿11.7 billion of damage around the Gulf of Thailand, particularly in Chumphon Province. Described at the time as the worst typhoon to hit the Malay Peninsula in 35 years, Gay was a small but incredibly powerful cyclone, hitting Chumpon with winds of 115 miles/hour. Its unpredictably rapid development lead to many offshore deaths on vessels in the Gulf of Thailand, and it continued to cause carnage until it made landfall in India.