The houses on Soi Na Yang in Rawai belong to Worada “Joy” Amwong. She and her Australian husband live in one house while the other two were built for sale.
She said life has become increasingly difficult recently due to constant small landslides and muddy runoff from above. She claims it is caused by a contractor removing soil, for sale, from the hillside above the houses.
Drains to carry rain water away from her site have been blocked or damaged by mud and she lives in fear of rocks or trees falling from above, she said.
When mud invaded Ms Joy’s home, she built a wall to keep it out, but this has not proved effective. Mud also streams down the road next to the house when it rains heavily.
She said that she had complained to Rawai Municipality in February, to the the Damrongtham Centre in May and to Provincial Hall three weeks ago, but despite promises from officials nothing had been done.
Now she is very worried because there are large rocks looming over her houses that look likely to fall at any time. She also fears that trees at the top edge of the excavation may topple and fall onto her home.
She told V/Gov Somkiet that the owner of the land, Somjai Areerob, had promised to make good any damage caused as a result of the excavation.
But she and her husband (who did not want to be named) want preventive action. The husband said, “That’s impossible. We don’t want him to take care of damage afterwards. We want to make sure there is no damage in the first place.”
After the site visit, V/Gov Somkiet convened a meeting at Rawai Municipality at which it was agreed that Mr Somjai should clear the drains.
The vice-governor also urged local officials to ensure that the excavations were being done “in the correct way” and to work to solve the problems raised by Ms Joy within 15 days.
“This is not a matter of nationalities,” he stressed. “We must make sure that things are done fairly.”
Mr Somjai was in Bangkok at the time of the meeting, but relayed his views through the local kamnan, Saeng Chanalert.
Today he told The Phuket News, “Fixing the drains is not my responsibility. The drains they installed are too small. I told Ms Joy about this a long time ago.”
He disputed Ms Joy’s claim that the hillside was previously covered with trees and vegetation. “It has always looked like this [bare earth].”
He added, “For sure the rocks will not fall on their house. But if they do, I will repair any damage.”
He pointed out that he had built a wall at the bottom of his land to contain soil run-off. This was in addition to the wall Ms Joy built.
Kamnan Saeng said that when Mr Somjai gets back from Bangkok another piece of wall will be built at the top of the road leading to the homes, to stop run-off there, too.