Phuket Mayor Links Mudslide Disaster to Illegal Hill Development

The Phuket mayor has pointed to illegal hill encroachment as the primary cause behind a mudslide that struck the island province, underscoring ongoing concerns about uncontrolled development in environmentally sensitive areas.

The statement reflects mounting pressure on local authorities to address construction activities on slopes that have stripped away vegetation and destabilized terrain across Phuket. Hillside encroachment—often involving residential or commercial projects—has long been identified as a contributing factor to natural disasters during the region's monsoon season.

Official responses to such incidents typically include pledges to intensify enforcement against illegal construction and land clearing. However, implementation of regulations remains challenging amid competing economic interests in Phuket, which relies heavily on tourism and real estate development.

The mudslide incident adds to a pattern of environmental challenges facing the island, where rapid urbanization and inadequate land-use planning have compromised natural safeguards against flooding and landslips. Authorities have indicated plans to survey affected hillside areas to identify further risks and unauthorized developments.

Residents and environmental groups have previously called for stricter oversight of construction projects near slopes and waterways to prevent future disasters and protect the island's natural landscape.

Photo: Patong and the hills behind it, Phuket, Thailand, February 2024. QLDGold via Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 4.0).