Historic Chiang Rai Pagoda Damaged By Tremors

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Historic Chiang Rai pagoda damaged by tremors

By The Nation

Several structures, including a 667yearold pagoda in Thailand, have sustained damages and cracks following the earthquake that rocked eastern Burma on Thursday.

Tremors caused by the 6.8magnitude quake and aftershocks damaged the ancient pagoda, known as Phra That Chedi Luang, located in the northern border province of Chiang Rai.

"The top of the pagoda fell off," tambon Wiang Chiang Saen municipality mayor Pollapop Manamontrikul said yesterday.

A smaller pagoda nearby also was damaged when the sevenmetre tall pagoda fell on it, following the tremors.

The tremor also left many cracks and holes on other parts of Phra That Chedi Luang.

Built in 1334, this Lannastyle pagoda stood 88 metres tall before being hit by the tremors. Officials have now sealed off the pagoda zone for repairs and renovation.

Fine Arts Department directorgeneral Soamsuda Leeyawanich said the umbrella on the top of the Phra That Chom Kitti in Chiang Rai was also damaged.

"It is leaning downwards now," she said.

She also said that the square hall with a pyramidal roof, or mondop, at the Phra That Phu Khao suffered cracks as well. Damages were also noticed at the Pasak Temple. All these structures are in Chiang Rai.

In Nan, cracks were apparent at Chiang Saen National Museum following the quake and aftershocks. At Wat Phumin Temple, cracks appeared across the temple hall that was over 700 years old.

Fortunately, the famous murals there were not affected.

"We could feel the tremor," the temple's abbot Phra Khru Wisit Nanthawut said yesterday.

Culture Minister Nipit Intarasombat will join Soamsuda today to inspect the damage to historically or culturally important sites in Chiang Rai's Chiang Saen district.

"We will need to seek an emergency budget from the Budget Bureau for restoration work," Soamsuda said.

She added that the restoration work would also focus on how to protect the structures from earthquake impacts in the future.

Meanwhile, the Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital reported cracks in one of its ward. Some nurses yesterday had to work from a temporary site outdoors. Some patients have also been moved to the ground floor. 1

-- The Nation 2011-03-26

[rodcourt49]

..well, I was there alone as it happened at 8:50pm Thursday 24th March 2011, witnessing the whole thing..but can't back it up with a photo or clip as didn't have any camera with me did I.

The resident monk was there alone inside the temple when the quake struck, but was not affected by the falling debris. (I would have estimated the structure to be 50+ metres tall, not 88 metres as mentioned in the article; maybe they mean feet) The story goes like this -

At this precise time I was standing looking up at the Phra That Chedi Luang at Chiang Saen. (One has to somewhere, so why not there).

The Chedi was flood-lit in a pale yellow light, quite eerie. (I have been to this particular place on at least six occasions and it just has something about it, it is a special place, and it was so quiet).

I was staying overnight in Chiang Saen and for some reason or other I decided to visit as it was a pleasant cool night after having eaten by the river.

I was standing there looking up at this magnificent structure thinking about its relevance and importance to Thai Buddhism, when it started to crackle then rumble and sway..i could hear it shaking and grumbling..it started as a shudder then gained intensity with the whole structure crumbling with various sections moving freely and swaying.

The tapered top section then broke off and tumbled to the ground only 10 metres away from where I was standing. (I was on the opposite side to where this piece struck).

The whole structure was moving and cracking, i could hear it and see large fragments falling off it.

My vision was affected by the shaking and it was difficult to keep the structure in focus for the approx. 20 seconds the tremor lasted. I was transfixed.

I just said to myself, please let it stand..because it was so old and precious to all who vitit there.

The tremors kept up for about 20 seconds then stopped..it was so quiet for a minute or so then the emergency sirens and vehicles could be heard in the distance.

An experience I will never forget.