PUBLISHED: 3 Sep 2024 at 04: 57
After 13 people were killed in the area by floods on August 23, Phuket’s Royal Forest Centre has decreed that a large Buddha page on top of Nak Koet Hill in Tambon Karon been closed due to fears of additional floods.
The statue’s location was discovered by Sorasak Rananan, director of Phuket’s Royal Forest Centre, on Monday, according to his agency’s report from previous Tuesday that it had been constructed on about 20 acres of land, five of which were outside the region of approval for construction.
The big Buddha statue was reportedly located at Wat Kittisankaram, which had previously been reported, last year when the Royal Forest Department requested that it be constructed on 15 acres of land in the Khao Nak Koet National Forest Reserve.
The National Office of Buddhism gave the Foundation of Phra Ming Monkul Sattha’s order to construct the monument.
According to Mr. Sorasak, authorities have seized six of the temple’s components, lodged a complaint with Karon authorities about the foundation, and posted signs announcing the department’s seizure of the five acres of land.
He further disclosed that officials believe there may be more landslides in the area because of the moist land and large buildings it.
According to reports, the Royal Forest Department do request that the Phuket Provincial Office of Buddhism contact them to obtain the closure of the large Buddha page.
In order to avoid landslides, Mr. Sorasak urged visitors to give value to the Buddha monument from above, not ascending it, citing the current rainy season and forecasts from the Meteorological Department, which indicated the place is likely to be hit by heavy rainfall.
The new floods killed 13 citizens and injured 19 people.
The opening of plants on the Nak Koet hill to create way for the placement of the Buddha statue, according to the Royal Forest Department, was responsible for the floods.