The Khao Lak Rescue Centre received a call from a local resident at 5pm stating that strong winds had brought down a huge tree down on the busy road in front of the Phor Ta Khao Lak Shrine and police checkpoint in Takua Pa.
The tree had caused damage to a minivan and motorbike and had injured one motorist it was reported.
Rescue workers arrived on scene to find debris from the 50 metre tall tree strewn all over the road and a damaged Buthsa Travel Co minivan parked at the roadside.
There was also an injured foreigner who had been hit by a piece of falling debris who rescue workers administered first aid before taking him to Takua Pa Hospital.
The minivan driver whose vehicle was hit by the tree, 45-year-old Phanu Buthsa explained that he dropped off tourists at a hotel in Khao Lak and was returning to Phuket when the tree fell.
“The tree hit a pylon and broke into small pieces and smashed the front of my van. One big piece of trunk landed across the road and injured a foreigner,” he said.
“Everything happened so fast and out of the blue. I am still in shock at what happened, but I’m glad that wasn’t carrying any tourists when it happened,” he added.
Rescue workers helped Khao Lak police direct traffic and clear the debris from the road which is the main route from Khao Lak and Khao Sok to Phuket.