THAILAND: Landslide Narrowly Crashes Family

A family of three narrowly escaped being crushed to death in a landslide in Krabi that completely destroyed their house on Friday.

The 56-year-old owner, Rorya Marya, was staying at her house in Baan Thapradoo, Khlong Thom District with her nephew and mentally unstable son when she heard rumbling sounds and went outside to check.

“I saw a landslide moving very fast toward our house, so I shouted to my son and nephew to get out. Moments later, the landslide swept our house into the Khlong waterway nearby. We didn’t get a chance to take any of our valuables,” said Ms Rorya. “I also lost 6,000 baht in cash in the disaster.”

The house, as well as all of the family’s possessions, were lost in the slide. Officials later surveyed the area and advised neighborhood residents to move out to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The family is temporarily staying at a neighbor’s house, as they have no place to go.

“Ms Rorya doesn’t have any land at the moment, so we are trying to see if we can find her some to build a new house on,” said Vivek Phiwdam, president of Huay Nam Khao OrBorTor. “I am willing to support some of the budget for its construction as well,” he added.