Foundation, president charged with forest encroachment at Phuket landslide site

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In: South-East Asia

PUBLISHED: 10 Oct 2024 at 10:00

The Great Buddha of Phuket on the Nak Koet hill. (Photo: Achadthaya Chuenniran)
The Great Buddha of Phuket on the Nak Koet valley. ( Photo: Achadthaya Chuenniran )

PHUKET: Police have charged the Big Buddha Phuket Phraphutthamingmongkhol Sattha 45 Foundation and its leader, Suporn Wanichakul, with bush invasion and illegal building at the site of a new deadly landslide.

Karon authorities on Wednesday announced the costs related to forest loss and referred the situation to open prosecutors.  

The flood occurred on Aug 23 after heavy rains struck Nak Koet Hill, where the charity’s 45-metre-tall Buddha statue is located.

The crisis resulted in 13 incidents and 19 wounds on Soi Patak 2 Road in tambon Karon of Muang area. The event affected 209 homes.

The page has been closed to the public since Sept 2 for health reasons.

According to the Royal Forest Department, the floods were caused by the opening of branches on the hill to make means for the big Buddha statue, which was built by the base under the purchase of the National Office of Buddhism.