Satun Declares Disaster After Landslide Kills 9-Year-Old

Pictures courtesy of SiamRath 

A fatal landslide in Satun province on 23 November left a nine-year-old girl dead and forced the evacuation of households as authorities declared the entire province an emergency disaster area. Soil collapsed from a hillside in Khuan Kalong district at around 10:00, crushing a family home and killing the child as she slept, while her older brother was injured and taken to Khuan Kalong Hospital. Multiple districts across Satun also faced flash flooding, with residents in several communities urgently relocated as rising water threatened vulnerable groups.

The incident followed days of severe weather and continuous runoff from the surrounding hills, which saturated the soil and increased the risk of further landslides. Rescue efforts were hampered by heavy debris and responders spent more than 45 minutes locating and retrieving the girl’s body due to the depth of the soil covering the structure. Concurrent flooding across seven districts inundated 16 sub-districts and 92 villages, affecting 3,309 households and 8,544 people.

Acting governor Kanit Kongchuy, accompanied by senior provincial officials, visited the bereaved family to offer condolences and initial assistance at Wat Nuea Khlong, where the girl’s funeral rites are being held. Kanit, as incident commander, ordered the immediate evacuation of all households living in recurring landslide-risk zones along the foothills, advising them to move to government evacuation centres or stay temporarily with relatives. Local leader Jatuphon Klaokhrat said access at the affected home was extremely difficult because the landslide concealed the exact location where the child was trapped.

Floodwaters continued to flow from the mountains, prompting the relocation of bedridden patients, older people, young children and other at-risk groups in multiple villages. Several areas experienced near head-height water levels, with communities racing to safeguard residents and prevent further casualties. Main transport routes were also disrupted, including Yontakankathorn Road between Chaloong and Khuan Don, which was reduced to a single traffic lane, while sections of the road linking Lumu and other areas in La-ngu district were cut off.

The Royal Thai Armed Forces deployed 20 personnel from Development Unit 45, led by Colonel Surakan Chimgul, to Khuan Don and La-ngu, identified as the most critical districts. Their operations focused on evacuating residents, transporting bedridden individuals and older people and producing and distributing clean water to households facing shortages. Surakan stated, “The Royal Thai Armed Forces will stand with the people until the situation eases. We are ready to provide full support.”

SiamRath reported that authorities confirmed that the ongoing flooding and landslides have resulted in one death and one injury, both linked to the hillside collapse in Khuan Kalong. With rains persisting and runoff still flowing, officials warned that further evacuations may be necessary in high-risk zones. Provincial and national agencies are continuing to monitor conditions, restore damaged routes and prepare additional assistance while the emergency declaration remains in place.

Key Takeaways

• A landslide in Satun killed a nine-year-old girl and injured her brother as flash flooding hit multiple districts.

• Authorities evacuated more than 30 households and declared the entire province an emergency disaster zone.

• Military units were deployed to assist evacuations, deliver clean water, and support affected communities.

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 Adapted  by  Asean  Now from Siamrath 2025-11-24