Chaiyaphum was severely affected as a strong seasonal storm struck, toppling 11 power poles at two locations in Chiloang Subdistrict along the Chaiyaphum-Nakhon Sawan road. This caused widespread power outages. Residents described the hailstorm, saying it was the strongest they had seen in 10 years.
On 2 May 2026, a reporter stated that at about 16:00, a storm with hail and strong gusts hit Chaiyaphum Province, especially in Chiloang Subdistrict, Mueang District. This caused two power poles along the inbound road to Chaiyaphum city near Ban Nong Bua Khao to collapse, and about 200 meters of the road surface was flooded.
Meanwhile, between kilometer markers 250 and 251 on the Chaiyaphum-Nakhon Sawan road inbound to the city, nine more power poles were knocked down. This site is about 1-2 kilometers from the first. In total, 11 power poles fell. Authorities closed about 2 kilometers of the inbound road, allowing vehicles to run two-way on the outbound side for safety.
This event caused widespread power outages. Rain continues to fall in the area. Officials are surveying the damage and urgently repairing the downed power poles to restore electricity to residents as soon as possible.
At the same time, flooding was reported on the road in front of Krung Thai Bank in Nong Bua Rawe District, causing water to accumulate on the inbound road. This is a chronic problem; heavy rains regularly cause flooding here, troubling local residents.
Mr. Surapong Baolee, 64, owner of Nanna Resort in Ban Nong Bua Khao, Chiloang Subdistrict, Mueang District, Chaiyaphum, said that while he was inside managing the resort, strong winds, rain, and hail fell. After a while, the power went out. When the rain eased, he inspected the surroundings and found that two high-voltage power poles along the inbound road next to his resort had tilted toward the street.
About 2 kilometers away, before entering the city in Nong Bua Khao on the outbound side, 200 meters of the road was flooded. Further before the city in Chiloang Subdistrict, near the pig farm opposite the DD Steel Shop, the storm toppled more than nine high-voltage power poles, causing widespread power outages. He said he had not seen such a severe storm in 10 years and was very shocked.
