BANGKOK, Aug 23, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - A landslide caused by heavy rain on the

popular Thai resort island of Phuket has killed five people, police said
Friday.

A Russian couple on vacation were among the dead, local police chief Khundech
Na Nongkhai told AFP, adding that officers were working to identify the other
victims.

"Heavy rain which began at 2:00 am (0700 GMT) last night caused a landslide
that damaged homes. Those living in the area were caught off guard," Khundech
said.

He said the landslide slammed into a residential area of the island, where
hotels and rented apartments are located.

Thailand has been struck by heavy monsoon rains over the last week, largely
affecting the country's southern coast and areas in the north.

The resultant flooding has killed five people over the past month and injured
32 others, according to the health ministry.

In Phuket, military personnel, volunteer groups and police have been deployed
to find any other victims, but forecast heavy rain could hamper the
operation, Khundech said.

While Thailand experiences annual monsoon rains, man-made climate change is
causing more intense weather patterns that can make destructive floods more
likely.

Widespread flooding across Thailand in 2011 killed more than 500 people and
damaged millions of homes around the country.