Thai monk killed, 5 injured in Buddha statue collapse - video

[snoop1130]

One of the injured monks, Paiwan Wantangphong. | Photo via Amarin TV

 

By Petch Petpailin

 

Locals believe a mysterious destructive force caused the collapse of a Buddha statue at a monastery on the banks of the Mekong River in the Isaan province of Amnat Charoen on November 29, killing one monk and injuring five others.

 

Officers from Chanuman Police Station investigated the fatal accident at Kaeng Kansung Monastery in Chanuman district, Amnat Charoen. Upon arrival, they found a shattered Buddha statue at its base. The incident occurred while monks were gradually removing the statue’s moulds after filling it with concrete.

 

The statue is of the great Buddha in a standing gesture. It is 12 metres high, including its lotus flower base. The Buddha statue itself was 9 metres tall.

CCTV footage captured the statue collapsing to the ground narrowly missing a monk and a dog, both of whom managed to flee the scene.

 

Tragically, five monks working near the statue were injured, and one, 37 year old Patipan Udonlap, lost his life in the collapse. Among the injured was 33 year old Paiwan Wantangphong, who told Amarin TV that he was at some distance from the statue and sustained injuries from falling fragments.

 

Paiwan speculated that strong winds on the day might have contributed to the incident but was uncertain about the exact cause.

 

 

Locals interviewed by Channel 7 reported that several mishaps occurred during the statue’s construction before. Many attributed these to malevolent spirits. They claimed the statue’s location was previously the site of an antique house and the spirits tied to the land might have been displeased with the changes.

 

Building without permission

 

The abbot of the monastery, Wirachate Chinwangso, explained that the monk overseeing the construction was from another temple. The moulds were removed from the statue just one day after the concrete was poured.

 

Wirachate admitted he was concerned about the premature removal of the moulds, but the supervising monk assured him of its safety, citing prior experience. Additionally, the moulds were needed urgently by another temple, which expedited the operation.

 

Despite the tragedy, Wirachate dismissed claims of supernatural involvement, attributing the collapse to structural and procedural shortcomings. Nonetheless, he pledged to conduct ceremonies to ward off destructive spirits for the sake of local morale.

 

Renowned lawyer and president of the Dhamma Lawyer Army Foundation, Ananchai Chaiyadate, commented on the incident, attributing it to a lack of construction expertise.

 

Ananchai highlighted that many temples, particularly in Isaan, do not secure permits or hire qualified professionals for construction projects. He called on relevant government agencies to enforce stricter regulations for religious construction projects to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

 

 

Source: The Thaiger

-- 2024-12-02

 

 

[watchcat]

9 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Locals believe a mysterious destructive force caused the collapse of a Buddha statue at a monastery on the banks of the Mekong River in the Isaan province of Amnat Charoen on November 29, killing one monk and injuring five others.

 

They also believes i n lottery numbers morons!

Edited Monday at 10:06 PM by watchcat

[JoePai]

mysterious destructive force

 

As opposed to mysterious bad planning/workmanship ?

[lordgrinz]

2 hours ago, JoePai said:

mysterious destructive force

 

As opposed to mysterious bad planning/workmanship ?

 

It's never to do with safety, it's fate, so this must be fate that this happened.....just bad karma I guess.

[sammieuk1]

Bridges are made the same way here with not much thought as to how it will stay up 🤔

[mran66]

Amulets sold by this temple must be useless. 

[Will B Good]

Locals believe a serious lack of rebar, poor quality control during the mixing of the cement and high winds caused the collapse.......no, let's stick with a mysterious force....frickin idiots.

[mran66]

Locals believe a mysterious destructive force caused the collapse 

 

It's the same mysterious destructive force that is behind many accidents in Thailand.

 

Outside of Thailand it's called gravity. Mass inertia is the other appearance form of the same. Not much known about it here so it actually can be called mysterious. Many accidents as people have no idea about it. 

[hotchilli]

17 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

Locals believe a mysterious destructive force caused the collapse of a Buddha statue at a monastery on the banks of the Mekong River in the Isaan province of Amnat Charoen on November 29, killing one monk and injuring five others.

Nothing to do with removing the molds before the concrete had time to set then?

[PETERTHEEATER]

I hope this doesn't negate the number 9 on my lottery ticket.

[Muhendis]

22 hours ago, snoop1130 said:

He called on relevant government agencies to enforce stricter regulations for religious construction projects

How about calling on relevant government agencies to enforce stricter regulations on ALL construction projects.

Builders the world over find ways to cut corners for one reason or another usually for either laziness or monetary gain.

It is down to the local Health and Safety Executive, which is what we call it in the UK, to strenuously to enforce building site safety regulations.

As far as locals believing in the supernatural is concerned, this is what the monks want. It keeps them in a job and maintains their pseudo superiority over the villagers and, of course, ensures the monks receive their daily food allowance from said villagers.

 

Footnote.

Buddha said to his followers "Do not worship me. I am not a god"

Hey Ho. Simple people have other ideas.....

 

ps I am a godless heathen so I know nothing.

Edited 23 hours ago by Muhendis

[quake]

Wrong amulet day.

R.I.P Mr Monk.

[Peabody]

On 12/2/2024 at 7:32 PM, snoop1130 said:

Locals believe a mysterious destructive force caused the collapse of a Buddha statue...

Gravity?