Thirty Villages in Phuket Received Rain Gauges for Future Landslide Warnings

Phuket –

In total, 30 villages in Phuket have received rain gauges which will be installed at 30 risky areas for future landslide warnings.

Our previous stories:

Phuket has been announced as a disaster zone in which 209 families are currently suffering from the effects of landslides and flash floods, announced relevant officials.

Thirteen people have been found dead including two Russian nationals after a landslide in Karon on Friday early in the morning (August 23^rd).

A local in Phuket has filed a letter to the Phuket Governor asking for a formal investigation to find the causes of a landslide on the Nark Kerd Hill in Karon, Mueang Phuket.

The Karon Mayor has confirmed that no legal license was requested for some construction on the Phuket Big Buddha.

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.

The Royal Forest Department has confirmed that some areas at the Big Buddha have encroached illegally into a reserve forest.

There are in total eight points in all three districts in Phuket that are at risk to cause more landslides.

The Department of Mineral Resources (DMR) has identified 49 villages in Phuket at risk for landslides.

Now for the update:

On Tuesday (September 10^th) the Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat received 30 rain gauges from the deputy director-general of the Department of Mineral Resources (DMR). The DMR also gave maps of risky landslide areas for 15 sub-districts. Governor Sophon told the Phuket Express that these meters and maps will be given to village headmen where areas are at high risk for flash floods and landslides.

The DMR explained to relevant authorities of how to install and use the meters. If the rainfall is from 100-150 mm, a warning should be prepared for the local resident’s evacuation. If the rain is more than 200 mm in 24 hours, residents must be evacuated to a safe place because the area is at high risk for a landslide.