Loy Krathong: Strict ban on floating lanterns near Bangkok landmarks and airports

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LOY KRATHONG
Strict ban on floating lanterns near Bangkok landmarks and airports
The Nation



BANGKOK: -- THE BANGKOK Metropolitan Administration (BMA) has warned that anybody selling or releasing airborne lanterns in key venues with tall and large buildings from 6pm today until 5am tomorrow would face up to three months in jail and/or Bt6,000 in fines.

The venues included palaces, temples, historic sites, event-organising places and government offices. Warning signs have also been posted at 32 piers and pontoons along the Chao Phraya River and 21 along canals prohibiting their use during the Loy Krathong festival. They include the Wang Lang (Siriraj) Pier, Suraosaikongdin School Pier, Wat Bukkalo Pier, Chongnonsee Pier and Wat Chatkaewchongkolnee Pier.

As for those that can be used, the city has also posted signs notifying the public about the pier's load limit, which is usually up to 60 persons.

The ban on floating lanterns was announced last week by deputy Bangkok governor Pol Maj-General Atsawin Kwanmuang, based on the Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Act 2007's Sections 21, 22, 32 and 37.

Floating lanterns are strictly prohibited in areas near Suvarnabhumi Airport, namely Prawet, Nong Chok, Suan Luang, Min Buri, Khlong Sam Wa and Lat Krabang districts. Areas near Don Meuang International Airport are Don Muang, Bang Khen, Lak Si, Sai Mai, Bang Sue, Lat Phrao, Dusit, Phaya Thai and Chatuchak districts.

Up North, Chiang Mai International Airport director Group Captain Wisoot Chantana yesterday affirmed that a total of 84 flights had been cancelled and another 40 rescheduled from yesterday until tomorrow as a measure to avoid the floating lanterns.

Wisoot said this encouraged visitors to arrive earlier and stay longer in the province, hence generating more spending. He said the number of arrivals in the two to three days before the festival had risen to 17,000 per day from the usual 12,000. He said visitors had been informed about flight cancellations or rescheduling, so they could plan accordingly.

Meanwhile, local craftsmen in Chiang Mai dismissed as untrue a viral post circulating in social media about floating lanterns being attached to small cooking-gas cylinders to keep them afloat longer and rise higher.

Nikorn Wongwiraj, owner of the Loongthong Khomloy shop, said such an invention was not likely to rise as high as 6,000 metres. He said the lanterns were made of paper, wire and bamboo so they are light enough to float and could not possibly carry a cylinder.

He explained that if there were such lanterns in reality, they would have to be rather enormous with a 10-metre radius to carry the weight, hence it would be witnessed by far more people if it were ever to take to the skies.

Source: http://www.nationmultimedia.com/national/Strict-ban-on-floating-lanterns-near-Bangkok-landm-30273656.html


-- The Nation 2015-11-25

[alant]

When I read the headline and saw the pictures I thought they were talking about the krathongs floating on the water...

[lee b]

I was shocked last night ( near ping river in Chiang Mai ) I only saw 7 sky lanterns all night. The same time last year there were thousands of them. Doubt the same will happen tonight though, 10.30am now and fireworks going off all over already !!

[mercman24]

did anyone see the photos last year of the aftermath the next day on the river, thai thinking (its not my problem, my boat floated away), there was literally tons of the rubbish caught up in a wier, lorry loads of lanterns carted away.

[robertthesculptor]

Don't so slowly beautiful exotic Thailand is turned into the dismal gray of N. Korea, or China.... Does not look like a return to smiles

[morpho]

I was shocked last night ( near ping river in Chiang Mai ) I only saw 7 sky lanterns all night. The same time last year there were thousands of them. Doubt the same will happen tonight though, 10.30am now and fireworks going off all over already !!

I walked down to the Ping from Tha Phae Gate last night. I could not believe how subdued everything was. I've lived here 5 years and this was the most boring, mundane Loy Krathong I have ever seen. I've never seen so few sky lanterns and hardly any krathong on the river when I was there. Really didn't feel like much of a holiday to me.