Medieval Chiang Mai Pagoda Collapses In Heavy Rain

[george]

Medieval Chiang Mai pagoda collapses in heavy rain

CHIANG MAI: -- A medieval chedi or pagoda built during the first kingdom of this former northern capital over 500 years ago,collapsed Friday night during a heavy rain.

Meanwhile, Chiang Mai mayor Boonlert Buranupakorn ordered officials to guard the site of the ruin to prevent outsiders from entering and looting Buddha amulets and other relics which had been contained inside the pagoda.

Heavy rains relentlessly fell on Wat Pun On, located in the heart of the province, in the past few days, causing its aged brickwork (which rose to a height of over 10 metres) collapsed almost entirely. The east side was left with slight damage, he said.

Round-the-clock security was ordered to prevent theft after the incident, the mayor said.

Abbot Amorn Thammathat said several cracks had been noticed earlier on the sides of the pagoda and that rainwater seepage apparently led to the structural collapse of the pagoda during torrential rain.

The temple itself is thought to have been built by King Yotchiangrai, the 12th king of Meng Rai dynasty in the year 1501.

The abbot said that Fine Arts Department officials would soon inspect the damage and would either find ways to repair the present structure, or built a new one.

--TNA 2006-08-19

[chownah]

Hard to believe that a 500 year old structure would be so neglected that it would collapse from heavy rain. Maybe TAT should start using the slogan "Come see amazing Thaland....before it falls apart".....or "Unseen Thailand....and never will be seen because it is disappearing from neglect."

[leisurely]

How sad that guards must be posted to stop people looting.

[chownah]

How sad that guards must be posted to stop people looting.

What is truly sad about this is that it probably won't stop the looting but simply reserve the booty for some upper class thieves.

[eyespan]

Yup... 500 yr old buddhist amulets will fetch better prices if sold by some "reputable" retail outlets rather than from a northern thai farmer.

[george]

Update:

Collapsed Chiang Mai pagoda declared danger zone

CHIANG MAI: -- The area near an historic five-century-old pagoda (chedi) which collapsed in a Buddhist temple compound on Friday after heavy rain lashed this former northern capital has been declared a "danger zone" by provincial authorities.

Safety nets have been installed some five metres away from the 505-year-old chedi within the precincts of the historic Pan On Temple in downtown Chiang Mai.

Visitors have been barred from entering the temple compound due both to concern that further rainfall might collapse another part of the ancient pagoda on the eastern flank and hurt passers-by and that some visitors might attempt to carry away historic artefacts.

Municipality officials are now guarding the collapsed structure on a round-the-clock basis with particular concern for the possible theft of Buddha amulets which were kept inside the pagoda, built during the reign of the 12th king of the Meng Rai dynasty.

The abbot of the temple believes the collapse resulted from rain entering the structure through cracks.

Residents living nearby the temple said they believed that the collapse might have resulted from the temple's ongoing restoration work on two chedis, which made them vulnerable to damage. They said construction workers had drilled into the stupa's base for an inspection just two days before it collapsed.

Local residents said the drilling made it vulnerable to further rainwater seepage into the already damaged chedi making it collapse.

Fine Arts Department officials will inspect the damaged structure soon.

--TNA 2006-08-20

[meemiathai]

How sad that guards must be posted to stop people looting.

What is truly sad about this is that it probably won't stop the looting but simply reserve the booty for some upper class thieves.

Yes, you are right. Sadly these things do happen.

New Orleans - The police department said it is investigating a dozen officers in connection with looting during the lawlessness that engulfed the city after Hurricane Katrina.