Big Buddha Phuket Foundation Charged Over Fatal Landslide Incident

[snoop1130]

 

Authorities have charged the Big Buddha Phuket Phraphutthamingmongkhol Sattha 45 Foundation and its president, Suporn Wanichakul, following a devastating landslide triggered by heavy rains in Thailand.

 

The charges, which stem from forest encroachment and unauthorised construction on Nak Koet Hill, come in the wake of the tragedy that claimed 13 lives and injured 19 others on August 23. The landslide primarily affected residents along Soi Patak 2 Road in the Mueang district's tambon Karon, impacting 209 households.

Karon police have forwarded the charges related to forest destruction to public prosecutors, highlighting the gravity of the situation. The Royal Forest Department identified the clearing of trees at the hilltop for the construction of the enormous 45-metre-tall Buddha statue as a significant factor in the landslide.

 

This statue, standing under the auspices of the National Office of Buddhism, prompted safety concerns, eventually leading to the site's closure to the public on September 2. As the investigation progresses, it underscores the tension between development and environmental preservation.

 

File photo for reference only

 

-- 2024-10-10

 

[LivinginKata]

Is this place still closed ?

[hotchilli]

10 hours ago, LivinginKata said:

Is this place still closed ?

Yes I believe so

[nobodysfriend]

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

a devastating landslide triggered by heavy rains

 

13 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

The Royal Forest Department identified the clearing of trees at the hilltop for the construction of the enormous 45-metre-tall Buddha statue as a significant factor in the landslide.

 

Human interference ( the cutting of trees ) , led to catastrophic results .

Not the first time .

Everything is connected , every action provokes a reaction .

[john donson]

so will they ask for demolition or find a brown envelope solution ?

[rumeaug]

Thailand is like spain in the 80s and 90s after the franquist dictatorship. Wild lawless west for promoters building chaotically everywhere on the spanish coasts, ugly and cheap quality, city mayors browned enveloped ad nauseam etc....it destroyed big chunks of the coastline. 

[Kinok Farang]

This problem on Patak rd will just keep re-occurring.From what i have seen the whole hill is in danger of slipping.In 2022 hundreds of tons of sandy slurry demolished Karon post office.A month ago another landslip forced aprox 50 people to evacuate their houses to live in the temple.There are hundreds of buildings built directly into the hill and it is just a matter of time before another "accident" happens.

[LivinginKata]

8 hours ago, Kinok Farang said:

This problem on Patak rd will just keep re-occurring.From what i have seen the whole hill is in danger of slipping.In 2022 hundreds of tons of sandy slurry demolished Karon post office.A month ago another landslip forced aprox 50 people to evacuate their houses to live in the temple.There are hundreds of buildings built directly into the hill and it is just a matter of time before another "accident" happens.

 

As far a I can see Karon Post office is still standing. It did close couple years back. Not long after it opened. Never heard of any mudslide. 

[Kinok Farang]

9 hours ago, LivinginKata said:

 

As far a I can see Karon Post office is still standing. It did close couple years back. Not long after it opened. Never heard of any mudslide. 

I witnessed it.The mud came though the back wall,through 2 rooms and ended up on Patak rd.4 or 5 feet high.

[watchcat]

22 hours ago, john donson said:

so will they ask for demolition or find a brown envelope solution ?

 The  latter i think.

[LivinginKata]

12 hours ago, Kinok Farang said:

I witnessed it.The mud came though the back wall,through 2 rooms and ended up on Patak rd.4 or 5 feet high.

 

Yes I know that part of Patak Road flood every time it rains. Big mobile pump at Supercheap, my doc at Karon clinic opposite has flooding. Never seen thick mud. Guess much of this is due to big housing development up the hill. Brought all the rain water/mud down. The development started a number of year ago never completed.