ZCZC
BFF-55
THAILAND-LANDSLIDE-DEATH
Landslide in northern Thailand kills 8
BANGKOK, July 29, 2018 (BSS/Xinhua) – Eight were killed after a landslide
hit a village in northern Thailand, media reported on Sunday.
The last missing victim of a mudslide in northern province of Nan was
recovered Saturday evening, bringing the death toll to eight as another
avalanche of mud is feared.
The victims included two male adults, four women and two young girls,
according to local media.
All of the more than 200 residents of the Baan Huay Khab community have
been evacuated to nearby temporary shelter.
Narong Inso, the top provincial disaster official, said officers have been
deployed to block people from going back in, as bad weather and conditions in
the mountain could trigger another landslide. Thunderstorms are forecast for
next week.
Officials remain on full alert as cracks have been found for a distance of
200 meters on the mountain above the community. This raised concern that
there might be a new round of mudslides, he said.
Officials of the Department of Geology Department will be sent to Ban Huay
Kharb to study the soil samples to determine the cause of the landslide and
to find out what could be done to prevent a repeat of the natural disaster.
The landslide occurred at Ban Huay Khab in Nan Province at around 7:00
a.m. on Saturday. Soil loosened by heavy rains rushed down a nearby slope,
burying the community in mud up to 10 meters deep in some areas.
BSS/XINHUA/FI/ 1830 hrs