The storms caused four elec-tricity transformers to explode and triggered the power outages. Uprooted trees blocked two roads. Workers quickly removed the trees and replaced transformers.

Yasothon Governor Weerawit Wiwatwanich said yesterday provincial officials were surveying the damage to homes. He said the transformers cost about Bt800,000.

On Tuesday, tropical rain and hail storms caused damage to 130 homes in Kalasin.

One person was killed after being struck by lightening and two others were believed to have been killed when lightening hit a mobile telephone near them.

The weather bureau advised people to turn off mobile phones if outside during storms. "Avoid wearing ornaments made of metal, too," it said in a statement.

There were reports of livestock being struck by lightening.

The department forecast trop-ical storms for most of Northeast and parts of the North today.