Sea surge devastates Trang village, leaving residents homeless

A powerful sea surge devastated the coastal village of Ban Mot Tanoi in Ko Libong, Kantang district, Trang province, rendering residents homeless and their properties in ruins. Waves reaching heights of 3 to 4 metres, combined with strong winds, caused extensive damage to 15 homes, with eight destroyed and seven partially damaged.

Residents are now left to pick up the pieces of their shattered lives. Debris is scattered across the area, and personal belongings that couldn’t be salvaged remain strewn about. The villagers, gripped by fear, have relocated their families and possessions in anticipation of further destruction.

They are dismantling whatever remains of their homes to salvage materials for future use. Along the beach, several large trees have also been uprooted. Local officials, including the Ko Libong Subdistrict Administrative Organisation, have stepped in to provide initial assistance.

Anupong, a 39 year old resident, expressed the severity of the situation. He described the waves as the most violent in over a decade, with several homes collapsing in just one day. He warned that the situation could worsen tomorrow with higher and stronger waves expected.

Anupong implored local officials for immediate assistance, highlighting that the affected villagers had lost not just their homes but also the land they stood on.

Many displaced residents now rely on relatives or are forced to rent temporary accommodations.

Savings lost

The urgency of the situation is palpable. In just one day, the ocean has encroached onto the land by at least 20 metres. Anupong called on the government and relevant agencies for help with new land to build on and financial aid for construction. He shared his heartbreak over losing his home and savings, which were meant for building a house, now washed away by the sea.

“We can only rely on the kindness of others to help us now.”

Local officials had previously promised to construct wave barriers but budget approvals have been pending for over four years, which the villagers cannot afford to wait for. The sea has been eroding the land for nearly a decade but the past few years have seen an alarming increase in erosion. If the situation remains unaddressed, Anupong fears that nothing will be left of the village in another four to five years.

Walaiporn, a 45 year old resident, echoed the plea for governmental intervention. She stressed the dire need for new housing for the displaced families.

With homes destroyed, some families are crowding into single rental homes, accommodating multiple families under one roof. The financial strain is immense, with the cost of rebuilding estimated at 200,000 to 400,000 baht per home, a lifetime’s worth of savings for many.

“It’s hard to express the pain. We can only do our best to help each other for now.”

Homes destroyed

Village head Nathawat Talayluk reported that 15 homes were damaged, with eight completely demolished and seven partially affected. He fears that the waves will become even more forceful.

The erosion issue has been escalating since 2018, and this latest incident is the most severe in his memory. The community, comprising 367 households and over 1,100 residents, urgently needs new housing and expanded living areas.

Local officials have been coordinating with the district and provincial offices, as well as the Ko Libong Subdistrict Administrative Organisation, to provide immediate aid. However, without the construction of wave barriers or relocation of residents, Nathawat believes the community could be entirely consumed by the sea within the next few years.

He urged the government to revive the previously proposed seawall project to protect the village from future disasters, reported KhaoSod.