Police from Chalong Police Station were present at the scene of the tree fall that killed at around 5:30 p.m. on July 20 on Koh Hey beach (in Chalong sub-area, Mueang district, Phuket), Thaiger reported.
Local people took the two tourists hit by fallen trees to the hospital before the police arrived.
One of the two victims, Ms. Wang Yang (53 years old), was seriously injured when a large branch hit her and could not survive. Meanwhile, her husband was slightly injured.
The witnesses told the police that Ms. Wang and her husband arrived at the beach with a group of tourists at around 3:30 p.m. The couple was sitting in a relaxing chair under a tree when a big thunderstorm hit them. A large tree fell down, hitting two tourists.
Wang's body is currently being autopsied at Vachira Phuket Hospital.
Local authorities are urging people and tourists to avoid sitting or standing under or near trees during the weather in Thailand affected by Typhoon Wipha.
To respond to the incidents, the provincial government has begun safety inspections in public parks and trees along the road. Some large trees have been pruning or relocated from residential areas and roads.
On July 21, flash flood and landslide warnings were issued in Phuket due to prolonged heavy rain. This pouring rain is believed to be caused by Typhoon Wipha.
Typhoon Wipha made landfall in the northern mainland of Vietnam on the morning of July 22, causing widespread heavy rain.
According to the Thai Meteorological Department, some tourist destinations expected to be affected by the typhoon include Mae Hong Son, Chiang Mai, Chiang Rai, Udon Thani, Ratchaburi, Bangkok and the southern provinces of the country.
The Lao Meteorological Agency has issued a warning about the risk of increased flash floods and landslides as Typhoon Wipha causes heavy rain, strong winds and thunderstorms over a wide area in the North and Central regions of Laos.
Tourists in low-lying areas and along river banks in the North and North Central regions of Vietnam; areas in Laos and Thailand as above are advised to be extremely vigilant and proactively prevent natural disasters in the coming days. Heavy rains caused by the impact of Typhoon Wipha could lead to landslides, flash floods and cause damage to people and property.
