One of the residents affected by the recent landslide on the hills overlooking Kata in Phuket has penned a letter to the provincial governor demanding action.
In his letter to Governor Sophon Suwannarat, Chalong Loysamut points to the deforestation at the top of Nak Kerd Hill in Karon district, which he claims is linked to “uncontrolled” expansion in the buildings and car parks surrounding the Big Buddha.
Chalong is urging the governor to hold a formal investigation into the cause of last Friday’s tragedy, which killed 9 Burmese workers, 2 Thai women, and a Russian husband and wife, as well as injuring several others, displacing countless people, and destroying or damaging hundreds of properties.
Phuket has been officially declared a disaster zone, with 209 families affected by the landslide and flash flooding.
In his letter, Mr Chalong tells the governor that unless action is taken against the root cause of the tragedy, it will happen again. He says the uncontrolled expansion at the famous Big Buddha landmark has caused deforestation, which in turn, exposed the mountain to the risk of landslides during the seasonal monsoon rains.
Big Buddha, one of Phuket’s favourite tourist attractions, has become a big earner for taxis, elephant rides and the people that run the attraction, mostly under the guise of a “religious experience” for devotees of Buddhism.
The writer goes on to say that the deforestation means the mountain has been destabilised and the local community lives in fear of future landslides. He is calling on provincial officials to act now to keep residents safe and prevent further environmental damage.
The governor’s office has confirmed receipt of Mr Chalong’s letter and says they are investigating his claims with a view to implementing measures aimed at preventing future landslides.
SOURCE: The Phuket Express
