Phuket Tourist Beaches Warned Of Landslide Threat

[webfact]

Phuket tourist beaches warned of landslide threat

By Pongphon Sarnsamak

The Nation

The west coast of Phuket province, known as a tourist paradise, is at risk from landslides due to land-use change and forestry, the Mineral Resources Department revealed yesterday. Kata, Karon, Patong, Kamala and Sai Khao beaches are on alert for landslides during the rainy season.

Lerdsin Raksasakulwong, director of the Mineral Resources Department's Geology Office, said the increasing presence of tourist accommodation in forest areas was the major cause of the landslide threat.

"A lot of mountainsides in Phuket province were damaged to build hotels and resorts," he said.

"These areas have experienced many landslides during the past few years but no one has talked about them as it could affect the tourism industry."

To prevent further damage to hotels and resorts in these areas, the department has tried to invite owners to join in training for landslide surveillance - but no hotel or resort owners or local people have cooperated with officials, Lerdsin added.

The department has joined with Phuket Municipal Office in using a measuring device to monitor rainfall and issue landslide warnings to local people.

"If the amount of rainfall exceeds 80 millilitres within 24 hours, that means everyone [on the west coast] would be at risk from landslides," he said.

The department found many areas, not just Phuket, are at risk from flooding and landslides during the upcoming rainy season in October.

The department's director-general Adisak Thongkhaimuk said Krabi province's Ban Ton Han village was among them. This village was hit hard by severe flooding and a massive landslide last March. More than 136 houses were destroyed and 12 people killed.

To prevent damage from landslides, Krabi provincial authorities have asked some villagers to relocate to other areas. Additionally, the department has handed a landslide-risk-zone map to provincial authorities to warn people where and when to flee from landslides.

"Landslide casualties in this area have been caused by a lack of early-warning messages," Adisak said.

-- The Nation 2011-07-21

[Atmos]

It is not just beaches; we lived at the base of Big Buddha hill (Chalong side) till April 2010, and saw a lot of excavation work in the time we were there, legal or illegal I don't know, seemed anyone with a bulldozer could dig into the hillside and clear the land for another bamboo restaurant or villas (on lower slopes). The torrent of water that comes down the road at times, overflowing the drains, all has to go somewhere, and would not be surprised to see a major slip there one day.

Sadly it is all 'progress' and these haphazard developments will continue.

[pmgthailand]

"To prevent further damage to hotels and resorts in these areas, the department has tried to invite owners to join in training for landslide surveillance - but no hotel or resort owners or local people have cooperated with officials, Lerdsin added."

Stick your head in the sand and it might go away but who cares as long as the tourists keep coming, but for how much longer.

Edited July 21, 2011 by pmgthailand

[Jimi007]

Stupidity prevails over any common sense it seems around most of Phuket. I have seen many large gashes in hillsides without a though of the environmental impact they may have. Sadly, planning and environment concern is non existent here...

[skorchio]

hmmm, interesting the timing of this article. A few months ago, the most ridiculous construction I have ever seen began in Patong. It is perched on the hillside on the North end of Patong, approx opposite the mosque in Pra Barami road (behind the PA cable office). An access road has been built on a slope of what looks like 70 degrees inclination. Apparently there is a huge hotel being built up there, about 150m above sea level. It all screams STOP. To me anyway .... obviously palms have been greased to get this one going ...

[Phuket Stan]

hmmm, interesting the timing of this article. A few months ago, the most ridiculous construction I have ever seen began in Patong. It is perched on the hillside on the North end of Patong, approx opposite the mosque in Pra Barami road (behind the PA cable office). An access road has been built on a slope of what looks like 70 degrees inclination. Apparently there is a huge hotel being built up there, about 150m above sea level. It all screams STOP. To me anyway .... obviously palms have been greased to get this one going ...

I think u will find it is a temple being built there....no height restriction on the building of temples....there has been one severe landslide from this project which was reported in the local media but the work is still proceeding on the site....I wonder what precautions O'rchidee Resort have taken to prevent any more 2 ton rocks falling onto there villas

I have been told that it is an ex mayor of PAtong who is behind the project

Edited July 21, 2011 by Phuket Stan

[KarenBravo]

I wonder what precautions O'rchidee Resort have taken to prevent any more 2 ton rocks falling onto there villas

If you read the article about that, the boulders didn't "fall" onto the resort, they were pushed by a bulldozer.

[seriouseats]

its ok 70% of them agree with corruption for development.. Well now they've developed their villas and they have 70% of chances to lose it and die in it.. all fair and square.

[woodyleonhard]

hmmm, interesting the timing of this article. A few months ago, the most ridiculous construction I have ever seen began in Patong. It is perched on the hillside on the North end of Patong, approx opposite the mosque in Pra Barami road (behind the PA cable office). An access road has been built on a slope of what looks like 70 degrees inclination. Apparently there is a huge hotel being built up there, about 150m above sea level. It all screams STOP. To me anyway .... obviously palms have been greased to get this one going ...

Is this the one raining boulders on L'Orchidee?

I don't think there's a hotel going up there. Waaaaaaay above the building elevation limitations. But you're right about the slope. It'd be a skier's delight. Can't imagine anyone driving a car up there.

[lounger]

perched on the hillside.................. a slope of what looks like 70 degrees inclination .... obviously palms have been greased to get this one going ...

Er does greasing the palms help them start sliding or slide faster, like skis?

[Thaddeus]

perched on the hillside.................. a slope of what looks like 70 degrees inclination .... obviously palms have been greased to get this one going ...

Er does greasing the palms help them start sliding or slide faster, like skis?

Beat me to it you rascal.

[Phuket Stan]

I wonder what precautions O'rchidee Resort have taken to prevent any more 2 ton rocks falling onto there villas

If you read the article about that, the boulders didn't "fall" onto the resort, they were pushed by a bulldozer.

They were pushed by a bulldozer over the edge and then fell down the hill before falling on the resort...is that better for your rather petty pedantic correction ...Get a Life