Huge waves destroy rock dyke at Khao Lak

THE famed Khao Lak tourist destination at southern coastal Phang Nga province is still reeling from the impact of southwesterly monsoon with huge waves today (August 11) having demolished a rock dyke at Koh Kho Khao sub-district at Takua Pa district, Naewna newspaper reported this morning (August 11, 2020).

Khao Lak is a series of villages, now tourist-oriented, mainly in the Takua Pa district and partly in the Thai Mueang district. The name “Khao Lak” literally means ‘Lak mountain’. Lak mountain is one of the main peaks in the hilly small mountainous region, Wikipedia said.

Two- to three-metre high waves continued to hammer the rock dyke, built to protect this stretch of the coastal strip, leading to it first being damaged and then finally collapsing which opened the way for seawater to gush in and flood homes.

Villagers said this is the worst they have suffered in 15 years.

Koh Kho Khao Subdistrict Administration Organisation has responded by bringing in a backhoe to place large rocks on top of the damaged dyke to prevent more homes getting flooded.

Mr. NikomChumkalee, a resident of Baan Pak Koh village, urged the authorities to act quickly, especially for officials from the Department of Public Works and Town & Country Planning to come and have a look as many villagers are suffering from strong winds blowing on to the beach.

If the dyke is completely destroyed the top part of Ban Nam Khem port where people board and disembark from boats travelling back and forth to Koh Kho Khao Island would definitely not survive, he added.

Khao Lak was the coastal area hardest hit by the tsunami resulting from the December 26, 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake. Many people died including many foreign tourists and most of the coastal landscape, such as beaches, resorts and vegetation, was destroyed by the tsunami.

CAPTION:

The huge waves and the rock dyke at this stretch of Phang Nga coast which has now been destroyed. Thai headlines says, “Waves hammer and smash dyke.” Photos: Naewna