BANGKOK, 15 August 2011 – The Ministry of Culture is prepared to inspect ancient sites in Ayutthaya and Sukhothai provinces after they were recently affected by floods while reports only suggested slight damages so far.
In the wake of the recent floods in many provinces, Culture Minister Sukumol Kunplome stated that the Department of Fine Arts had found limited damages on ancient sites in the affected areas thus far. As the water level was reportedly receding, the Minister announced that she would soon pay a visit to the Ayutthaya Historical Park in Ayutthaya and other important sites in Sukhothai in order to follow up the flood situation and the effort to protect the local heritages from being submerged.
Meanwhile, Director-General of the Fine Arts Department Somsuda Leeyavanich confirmed that the disaster had incurred only a small extent of destruction on ancient remains, for example, two ancient kilns at the Si Satchanalai Historical Park in Sukhothai. The Director-General said a thorough damage assessment would be carried out after the floodwater had completely drained out.
As for Chaiwattanaram Temple and Pom Phet Fortress in Ayutthaya, Ms Somsuda expressed no worries over their conditions as the water in the area was currently only one meter high and flood walls had already been erected beforehand.
