Landslide Buries Workers’ Camp on Koh Samui, Two Missing

[Georgealbert]

 

Pictures from responders.

 

In the early hours of the morning, of December 15, a landslide struck a workers’ camp in Koh Samui, leaving two individuals missing. The incident occurred at 04:00  in the construction area located on a hillside in Soi Hima Thong, Moo 1, Maret Subdistrict, Koh Samui District, Surat Thani Province.

 

The two missing individuals are male workers of Myanmar nationality. Search and rescue efforts are currently underway, with a collaborative response from various local authorities and organisations, including Koh Samui District officials, the Koh Samui Municipality, the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Office (Koh Samui branch), the Bo Phut Police Station, Samui Rescue Center, the Kusol Songkhro Koh Samui Foundation, and the Wat Plai Laem Rescue Foundation.

 

Rescue teams are using manpower to dig through the rubble in an effort to locate the missing workers, as access is currently not possible for the machinery given the terrain and conditions. The operation faces significant challenges due to continuous rainfall in the area, which poses further risks of additional landslides.

 

The situation is being closely monitored, and authorities are urging residents in the vicinity of the construction site to remain cautious and stay updated on safety advisories.

 

 

-- 2024-12-15

 

 

[quake]

Oh dear,

Hope they find them alive.

But this does not look good .

 

 

[phetphet]

Samui has had some really bad rain over the last few days. Especially Friday and Saturday. Non stop yesterday from around 6am to 9pm.

A lot of construction going on on the hills and slopes of the island at the moment. Those worker's camps, usually situated on these muddy slopes are vulnerable to such events.

[Tropicalevo]

1 hour ago, phetphet said:

Samui has had some really bad rain over the last few days. Especially Friday and Saturday. Non stop yesterday from around 6am to 9pm.

 

The rain was so bad yesterday that only six flights landed on time.

The other 37 were late, very late (285 minutes was the worse) or diverted.

Much better weather today up here at the 'pointy' end.

[tomacht8]

Unfortunately, trees are being totally cut down everywhere for the countless pseudo "villa" projects. Landslides often occur during heavy rain, especially on mountain slopes. Greed eats brains. Nothing is secured after such clear-cutting operations. Then you can often see that the sand is washed onto the roads and many motorcyclists then break their bones. But the builders don't want to take any responsibility.

They leave their sand on the street for weeks/months. They don't have to be liable, so they don't care.