Giant boulder falls near Phatthalung home after days of heavy rain

PHATTHALUNG — A nearly four-tonne boulder broke loose from a cliff and rolled more than 400 metres down Phlu Mountain in Phatthalung on Monday morning, narrowly missing a house during several days of heavy rain.

Rain had fallen continuously across Phatthalung for four days, building up water in mountainous areas of Kong Ra, Srinagarindra, Tamot, Pa Bon and Si Banphot districts. The Phatthalung Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation warned residents living along the foothills of the Khao Banthat range to watch for flash floods and mudslides.

At about 08:15 on 10 November, heavy rain eroded rock along Phlu Mountain in Chai Buri Old Town Forest Park, Moo 1, Chai Buri subdistrict, Mueang Phatthalung district. The boulder came to rest about six metres from the home of Nattaphon Uthaijaem.

Forest park officials, local leaders and residents inspected the site and warned nearby households to remain vigilant, saying other large rocks near the collapse site could still fall as heavy rain continues.

Nattaphon said the incident had deeply frightened him and his wife after rocks broke loose from the mountain behind their home overnight.

“Before it happened, my wife and I heard a loud sound like thunder. We were startled and then saw a large boulder rapidly falling from Phlu Mountain,” he said. “It was very frightening because if the rock had moved only a little further, it could have struck the house and caused losses.”

Satit Makchit, head of Chai Buri Old Town Forest Park, said days of rain had eroded the cliff face and caused the nearly four-tonne rock to fall. No one was injured and no homes or property were damaged.

He said residents had been asked to monitor conditions closely, with rain forecast to continue from 9 to 13 November. About two or three homes are located roughly 200 metres from the site, while other homes lie farther away.

Phatthalung Governor Sujin Wajakij urged people living near mountain foothills to watch for flash floods and mudslides, as heavy rain had left large amounts of water accumulated in the mountains. Officials will continue issuing warnings if heavy rain persists.