Phuket’s province government plans to speak with specialists to investigate a mountainside area where 13 people, including two Russians and nine Myanmar nationals, were killed by landslides on Friday.

Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat said he has urged Thailand’s natural resources and environment ministry to send specialists to study the cause of the landslides and prevent them from occurring again.

According to the governor, the survey will take place on top of the Nak Kerd mountain range in Phuket’s Tambon Karon. He stated that his staff has been in contact with the local Russian Consular staff and Myanmar Embassy regarding the killings.

The landslides also wounded 19 persons. Of these, 14 have been released from the hospital. Persistent heavy rain began last Thursday morning in Karon, causing flash floods and landslides.

According to the government, topsoil came cascading down the mountain’s flanks, bringing large stones with it. There were reports of widespread damage to neighbourhoods and tourist accommodations.

phuket landslides temple on mountain

According to Thai Media, a temple has been built on the mountain range’s highest point, complete with a big primary Buddha image.

An overhead shot (See Above) taken on a Phuket-related Facebook page shows that the land has subsided near the base of the Buddha image, which some think caused the slides.

According to Trin Sapmongkol, an official at the Thamon Karon municipal office, the Buddha picture necessitated the construction of a big plot of land. The process also included removing trees, leaving the soil barren of anything to hold the top oil.

“The local residents have feared that a disaster would take place for some time, and it finally happened,” Mr. Trin added.

He stated that plans called for the construction of a little Buddha figure 22 years ago. However, as time went, the project remained unfinished and continued to develop, according to Mr Trin.

Local residents have petitioned the governor to investigate the business that built the Buddha figure.