Lessons learned from the 2006 flashfloods and landslide in uttaradit and Sukhothai Provinces: Implication for effective landslide disaster risk management in Thailand

Abstract

Like many other countries in Asian region, Thailand has been affected by various natural disasters including flash floods and landslides. The 2006 flash floods and landslide in the northern part of the country have affected 4 provinces leaving 87 people dead, 29 missing with more than 4,000 houses left totally and partially damaged. Exclusive of cost of damaged houses and individual property, the estimated total cost of damage is THB 308,615,331. The paper investigates the vulnerability and risk of the communities living in the hilly parts of Uttaradit and Sukhothai Provinces in the Northern Thailand that are frequently hit by flash floods and landslides. The root causes of the impacts of the disasters are further discussed based on findings from fieldwork conducted a month after occurrence of the disaster event. Learning from the flash floods and landslide disasters in the Northern Thailand, the paper recommends effective flashfloods and landslide management strategy that can empower local governments in Thailand to manage flashfloods and landslide risk thus reducing future impacts on vulnerable communities. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013.