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Afraid their homes will soon be swallowed by the sea, about 650 families in Laem Talumpuk have demanded to be relocated.

A seaside road in tambon Laem Talumphuk of Nakhon Si Thammarat was badly damaged by heavy seas during the storms that struck last week. Villagers want the government to help them move, as they are afraid coastal erosion could sweep their homes away. TAWATCHAI KHEMGUMNERD

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650 coastal families demand to be relocated

Chaiwat Satyaem

NAKHON SI THAMMARAT: About 650 families in tambon Laem Talumpuk have demanded to be relocated as severe coastal erosion is threatening their homes.

Prayuth Thanawatthana, kamnan of the tambon, said he had submitted the relocation request directly to Prime Minister Abhisit Vejajiva when he visited the area to inspect flood damage on March30.

The community did not make their request through the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry because they believed the ministry would not approve the plan.

The relocation could no longer be delayed because coastal erosion has reached a critical point. Safety concerns have been raised as about 1,000 people are living in a precarious situation in tambon Laem Talumpuk, an area often badly affected by tropical storms.

Mr Prayuth said waves had washed away up to five metres of earth on the coastline over the past several years.

Last month, waves as high as 5 metres slammed the shoreline, causing damage a further 25 metres inland in some areas that were already badly eroded.

He said the community would move out and encroach on new land if the government did not approve the relocation.

A group of 210 families would move initially and the rest would follow, he said. However, he did not say when the residents would leave.

Mr Prayuth said the families might resettle in mangrove forests in areas of Laem Talumpuk not affected by erosion.

He said the people would use their own money to relocate and build new houses. Canals would be dredged around a new settlement to prevent further encroachment.

Sujin Maleewong, 64, blamed the worsening coastal erosion on the removal of beach sand and on boats trawling too close to the coast.

Villager Jitr Manut, 51, said she had already moved to a new house constructed in the mangrove forest opposite her old house.

Wong Thongkaeo, also 51, said he wanted to move as soon as possible as he feared his house would soon be swallowed up by the waves.

coast (or coastline) – an area of land beside the sea ชายฝั่ง  the adjective form is coastal) แนวชายฝั่งทะเล
erosion – gradually destroying the surface of something through the action of wind, rain, etc; to be gradually destroyed in this way การกัดกร่อน,การเซาะ
sweep away – to destroy or to completely remove something พัดพาไป (ตามลมหรือน้ำ)
relocate – to move someone or something to another place โยกย้ายประชาชนออกจากบริเวณ
demand – a very firm request for something ข้อเรียกร้อง, การเรียกร้อง
severe – very serious and unpleasant รุนแรง
threaten – to be likely to harm or destroy something เป็นลางร้าย
submit – to formally give something to someone so that can make a decision about it ยื่น (เอกสาร) เพื่อการพิจารณา
request – an act of asking for something in a formal or polite way การขอร้อง
inspect – to look at something carefully ตรวจสอบ
community – a group of people who share the same  job, interests, religion, etc สังคม
natural resources –  things such as coal, trees, wildlife and oil that exist in nature and can be used by people ทรัพยากรธรรมชาติ
approve – to give official permission อนุมัต
delay – to make something happen at a later time than originally planned or expected เลื่อน
critical – (of a bad situation) very serious or dangerous อย่างรุนแรง  อย่างวิกฤต
concern – a worry ความกังวล
raise– to bring up a subject for discussion ยกขึ้นมาเป็นประเด็น
precarious – likely to change or become dangerous without warning; not safe or likely to fall ที่ไม่ปลอดภัย,  ไม่มั่นคง, ใกล้อันตราย
situation – all the circumstances and things that are happening at a particular time and in a particular place  สถานการณ์
tropical – relating to the hottest area of the Earth, between the Tropic of Cancer and the Tropic of Capricorn ในเขตร้อน
wave – a raised line of water that moves across the surface of the sea, ocean, etc คลื่น
slam – hit with great force ชนเข้าอย่างแรง
inland – in a direction towards the middle of a country; away from the coast ห่างจากชายฝั่ง, ซึ่งอยู่ภายในประเทศ
encroach - to gradually cover more and more of an area of land บุกรุก, ล่วงล้ำ
initially – at first ในเบื้องต้น
residents – people who live in a particular area ประชาชนที่อาศัยในท้องที่
resettle – to relocate; to move to another place to live ไปตั้งรกรากใหม่
mangrove – a tropical tree that grows beside water and has roots that begin above the ground ต้นไม้จำพวกโกงกาง
dredge – to remove unwanted things from the bottom of a river, lake, etc. using a sucking or other device ขุดลอก
settlement – a place where people come to live ชุมชน
removal – taking something away การเอาออกจาก
trawl – to fish for something by pulling a large net with a wide opening through the water จับปลาโดยใช้อวนลาก
construct –building or making something, especially buildings, bridges, etc. ก่อสร้าง
opposite – across from or facing someone or something ที่อยู่ตรงกันข้าม
swallow – to take somebody/something in ท่วมท้น, ดูดกลืน

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