THAILAND: AUTHORITIES IN HISTORIC TOWN WORK AROUND CLOCK TO PROTECT ANCIENT TEMPLES FROM FLOOD WATERS

Record ID: 646654

  • Title: THAILAND: AUTHORITIES IN HISTORIC TOWN WORK AROUND CLOCK TO PROTECT ANCIENT TEMPLES FROM FLOOD WATERS
  • Date: 14th September 2002
  • Summary: (W3) AYUTTHAYA PROVINCE, THAILAND (SEPTEMBER 12, 2002)(REUTERS) 1. SLV WAT CHAIWATTHANARAM HISTORIC SITES; SLV WALLS BUILDING/ WORKERS PUTTING PIPES SUPPORTING WALL; SCU CEMENT WALL NEAR RIVER; MV SANDBAGS PILED UP ON FOOT OF WALL; SLV WORKERS BUILDING SANDBAG BARRIER (16 SHOTS) 1.37 2. SLV PAN ANTI-FLOODING WALL AT HISTORIC SITE; SLV TEMPLE (2 SHOTS) 1.52 3. (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) BANCHONG WONGWICHIEN, ARCHAEOLOGIST SAYING "I'm a bit worried. Although we were able to handle the big flood in 1997 when the water was one hundred and fifty to one hundred and eighty centimetres high, if the water is higher than two metres, higher than the walls that we build, that will be a crisis because it means it will flood everywhere and there will be nothing we can do about it." 2.13 4. SLV HIGH TIDE RIVE SURROUNDING THE RUINS 2.21 5. (SOUNDBITE) (Thai) BANCHONG WONGWICHIEN SAYING "Though the ruins won't subside, it will certainly cause some damage to the cement coating around their base." 2.33 6. SLV HISTORIC SITE (3 SHOTS) 2.48 (W3) PICHIT PROVINCE, THAILAND (FILE) (REUTERS) 7. SLV FLOODING IN COMMERCIAL AREA; SLV FLOOD IN FARMLAND (3 SHOTS) 3.05 8. MV SHOP KEEPER BAILING WATER OF HIS BUDDHA IMAGE SHOP 3.13 Initials Script is copyright Reuters Limited. All rights reserved
  • Embargoed: 29th September 2002 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: AYUTTHAYA PROVINCE, THAILAND
  • Country: Thailand
  • Reuters ID: LVACBJNCVI7LORIN2916S9NAJSJ1
  • Story Text: Authorities in the historic town of Ayutthaya in
    Thailand are working around the clock to protect ancient
    temples from being deluged with water, as flood waters rise in
    the area.

    The ancient capital of Thailand, Ayutthaya, is
    preparing for floods as water levels rise in the area.

    Authorities on Thursday (September 12) began building
    cement walls and surrounding temples with sandbags in the town
    which lies 100 kilometres north of Bangkok.

    The town is surrounded by rivers and there are fears that
    if the rain, which has flooded many parts of the country,
    continues then it could affect the delicate ruins.

    Some of the buildings are hundreds of years old and
    attract thousands of tourists each year.

    "I'm a bit worried. Although we were able to handle the
    big flood in 1997 when the water was 150 to 180 centimetres
    high, if the water is higher than 2 metres, higher than the
    walls that we build, that will be a crisis because it means it
    will flood everywhere and there will be nothing we can do
    about it," said Banchong Wongwichien, an archaeologist.

    The irrigation department has warned that this time the
    floods will be worse.

    "Though the ruins won't subside, but it will certainly
    some damage to the cement coating around their base," he said.

    Floods in Thailand have already damaged hundreds of
    thousands of hectares of rice paddies at a cost of billions of
    baht to the world's top rice exporter.

    Fears are growing that other cash crops could also be hit
    as the country braces for the approach of tropical storm
    Hagupit, moving south from China this week.

    The Thai Meteorological Department has warned that
    expected heavy rains could aggravate already widespread
    flooding in 39 of Thailand's 76 provinces.


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