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After the devastating floods that struck Phuket, our team at Phuket Student News traveled to the coastal Moken communities, where we spoke with elders, fishermen, and families about their experiences, survival tactics, and the challenges they face in the aftermath.
 
Known as the Sea Gypsies of the Andaman, the Moken people have lived in harmony with the ocean for generations. Their unique knowledge of the sea has allowed them to predict disasters in ways modern technology sometimes cannot. This flood was no different.
 
“The Sea Gave Us a Warning” – How the Moken Predicted the Flood
 
Chai, a respected elder in the Moken village near Rawai Beach, shared his observations in the days leading up to the flood:
 
“We could feel the air change. The wind carried a message, and the tides behaved strangely. We saw more jellyfish than usual—this means something is coming.”
 
For the Moken, nature itself is a warning system. They read the movement of the waves, the behavior of animals, and the shifting winds to anticipate danger.
 
“The fish were uneasy, swimming in strange patterns. Even the birds acted differently,” added Preecha, a 32-year-old fisherman. “We told the younger ones to prepare, to move the boats to safer spots. Some listened, some didn’t.”
 
Unlike many Phuket residents who were taken by surprise, the Moken began moving their families to higher ground before the floods hit.
 
“We Watched Our Homes Wash Away” – The Struggles of Rebuilding
 
When the floods came, the Moken were prepared to survive but not to rebuild. Unlike wealthier areas in Phuket, their communities received little government assistance. Many lost their homes, boats, and livelihoods.
 
Aree, a 41-year-old mother, described the moment the waters reached her home:
 
“We had already packed what we could carry. We went to the higher cliffs. Then, we just watched. The water took our boats, our houses, everything. It was like the sea wanted to reclaim us.”
 
Boats are life for the Moken. They are not just transportation but a means of survival. With many boats destroyed, the community now struggles to fish, trade, and travel.
 
“Without boats, we have nothing,” said Nok, a young fisherman. “Fishing is not just a job. It is who we are.”
 
With limited financial resources and no access to bank loans, the Moken must rely on each other and outside donations to rebuild.
 
“We Do Not Belong to the Land” – The Moken’s Ongoing Fight for Recognition
 
Beyond the immediate challenges of food and shelter, the Moken face a deeper, more long-term issue—citizenship and land rights.
 
Many Moken families are stateless, meaning they do not have Thai citizenship. This makes it difficult for them to receive aid, own land, or access healthcare and education.
 
Boon, a village leader, voiced his frustration:
 
“When the floods hit the city, they had helicopters, doctors, food. For us? Nothing. We are ghosts to them. They forget that we were here before Phuket was even Phuket.”
 
Because of their nomadic past, the Thai government does not always recognize the Moken’s claims to land. As tourism and development expand, many Moken have been pushed off their ancestral coastal areas, forced into settlements with restricted movement.
 
“They build resorts where our grandparents fished. Now, they tell us we cannot stay? We belong to the sea, not to their laws,” said Sida, a 28-year-old mother of two.
 
The floods exposed how vulnerable indigenous communities are when it comes to disaster relief and government support.
 
“The Ocean is Changing” – The Impact of Climate Change
 
For centuries, the Moken have read the sea to guide their movements. But now, even they admit that something is different.
 
Preecha, the fisherman, described his fears:
 
“The seasons are wrong. The fish are leaving. The tides come too high, too fast. We cannot trust the sea like before.”
 
Many Moken believe climate change is making their survival harder. Rising sea levels and unpredictable storms threaten their homes, and overfishing by large commercial boats has drastically reduced their catch.
 
“Before, we only took what we needed. Now, big boats come and take everything. There is nothing left for us,” said Jaran, a 50-year-old fisherman.
 
For a community that has always lived in balance with nature, these changes are a warning sign.
 
“If the ocean is angry, it is because of what humans have done. The land people do not listen, but we see it happening,” said elder Chai.
 
What Comes Next?
 
As Phuket rebuilds after the floods, the question remains: What will happen to the Moken?
 
They do not seek modern homes or technology—they seek respect, recognition, and the right to live as they always have.
 
“We do not ask for much,” said Boon. “Just let us be who we are.”
 
Many local organizations are stepping in to help, but real change must come from government policies that protect the Moken’s land and way of life.
 
The floods may have passed, but the fight for the Moken people’s future is far from over.
 
How You Can Help
 
🔹 Support local NGOs working with the Moken community.
🔹 Advocate for policies that recognize indigenous land rights.
🔹 Learn more about the Moken’s culture and struggles.
🔹 Raise awareness about how climate change is impacting indigenous communities.
 
The Moken have lived through storms before. But will Phuket’s modern world leave them behind?
 
Their future depends on whether we choose to listen.