The following is our weekly feature in which we highlight the top local stories in our area of Phuket from the past week. The number of stories differs from week to week.
These are chosen and curated by our editorial team and are designed for our readers to get a quick “catch-up” of important stories they may have missed. We publish many stories daily and it is easy to lose track of important events or changes in our area. We do national recaps in a separate article, this is only the top local stories in Phuket.
They are in no particular order of importance but roughly in order of publishing. These are from Monday, August 26th to Sunday September 1st, 2024.
1. Eight houses have been damaged in total after a landslide on Wednesday morning (August 28th) in Rassada, Phuket City.
Eight Houses Damaged After Landslide in Rassada, Phuket-VIDEO
No injuries were reported.
2. The Department of Mineral Resources has confirmed soil indicators used to detect possible landslides are not working due to a lack of budget and maintenance.
Soil Indicators not Working During Phuket Landslide, says Official
The department has not received a maintenance budget for the past four years from the central government, claimed local officials.
3. The Phuket Governor reveals that the exact causes of the landslide in Karon have not been concluded yet while investigation has continued.
Final Cause of Phuket Landslide Not Yet Concluded, says Governor
The Department of Mineral Resources are analyzing the movement of soil around Phuket Island, not only at the landslide area, to find the exact causes.
4. The Royal Forest Department has seized back a five Rai plot of allegedly encroached land at the Phuket Bug Buddha.
UPDATE: Forest Department Seizes Allegedly Encroaching Land at Phuket Big Buddha
A summons has been issued for Mr. Suphon Wanichkun who is the president of the Phra Phuttha Ming Mongkhon Sattha 45 Foundation.
5. The Thai Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) will support the budget for nine landslide warning devices for Phuket by the end of this year.
If rainfall is at 140 to 160 mm the device should send a signal to relevant authorities, warning them or a potential landslide or problem.
That’s it for this week. Be safe!
