Russian couple among the 13 killed by landslide in Phuket

A Russian couple were among the 13 people killed by a landslide next to a luxury villa in Southern Thailand.

Evgeny Baturin, 38, and Ekaterina Zabavskaya, 36, were killed in the natural disaster at Soi Patak 2 in Phuket following heavy rain on August 23.

The couple had relocated from Vladivostok, Russia, and had lived in Phuket for around 13 years, with plans to marry this year.

The search concluded on August 24 after all bodies were recovered, including two Thai, two Russian, and nine Burmese workers.

Phuket Governor Sophon Suwannarat stated that the landslide affected three districts and impacting 209 families across nine villages.

Nineteen others were also injured, with three remaining hospitalised.

The bodies of two Thai victims have been retrieved, while the bodies of the Russian victims will be handed over to Russian authorities for notification to their families.

Sophon Thongsai, chief of provincial disaster prevention and mitigation, reported that the repair of public utilities and houses began on that day to allow evacuees to return to their homes as soon as possible.

Workers aimed to restore traffic lanes and remove all toppled power poles by nightfall.

Thailand and neighbouring countries in Southeast Asia are in their annual monsoon rainy season which sees soaring temperatures followed by powerful rain storms in the afternoon leading to widespread flash floods.