Kata landslide victims still await justice two years after disaster
Thirteen people died and 19 were injured when a landslide struck Kata on Aug 23, 2024. Survivors say the B9,000-per-person compensation has not matched their losses.
Thirteen people were killed and 19 injured when heavy rain triggered a landslide that swept through homes in Phuket’s Kata area on Aug 23, 2024. More than 50 houses were damaged or destroyed.
Two years later, affected residents are still seeking justice and further accountability. Questions about development and construction on the hillside above the disaster area, including work connected to the Big Buddha site, have not been fully resolved.
Phuket Bar Association President Rungnapa Phutkaew said residents ultimately received B9,000 per person in compensation. She described the amount as insignificant compared with the losses suffered, including the loss of belongings and lives.
The death toll rose during the rescue operation, from initial reports of three deaths to nine and eventually 13 as rescuers searched through the debris.
