AYUTTHAYA, Jan 31 – Thailand’s antiquities authorities will speed up restoring the former capital’s historic sites, damaged by last year’s flooding in the city of Ayutthaya, and reinforce weak structures in preparation for possible repeat flooding in the future.
Culture Minister Sukumol Kunplome and Somsuda Leeyawanich, director-general of the Fine Arts Department on Tuesday inspected the collapsed wall of the Mahathat Temple. A five-kilometre section of the wall tumbled down during the flood and Ayutthaya’s provincial fines art agency has used wooden staves to prop the remaining sections of wall to prevent further collapse.
The inspection revealed obvious foundation subsidence, restoration of which will make the wall stronger than they were rebuilt last time, the minister said.
More surveying will be done to find any other parts, which could collapse after the historic site was submerged in months-long flooding last year. It is believed there are many spots that need to be restored and strengthened in preparation for possible flooding in the future.
As a light and sound show is scheduled in February, Ayutthaya Governor Wittaya Phewpong said that there will be neither a fireworks presentation nor higher than normal level amplifiers which could cause vibration damage.
Performance of any fight scene that could impact the historic site will be cut off.
