The serene but fateful Nak Koet Hill in Phuket has turned into a focal point of controversy following a deadly landslide on August 23 that claimed the lives of 13 individuals and injured another 19. The calamity has escalated into a legal quandary involving the Royal Forest Department, the Foundation of Phra Ming Monkul Sattha, and a towering 45-meter Buddha statue.
Bannaruk Sermthong, the Royal Forest Department’s deputy chief, personally led an investigative team to the Moang district scene to probe the fatal landslide. According to their preliminary findings, the root cause of the disaster was linked to the deforestation at the hill’s apex, part of an ambitious project to erect the colossal Buddha figure, which weighs an astonishing 135 tonnes.
The towering statue is an integral part of Wat Kittisankaram. The temple had originally sought permission from the Royal Forest Department to utilize 15 rai of land within the Khao Nak Koet National Forest Reserve for their project. However, as Bannaruk recounted, the Foundation of Phra Ming Monkul Sattha, the organization behind the venture, stretched their construction footprint by an additional five rai beyond the sanctioned area.
“We expressly prohibited any extension of the project area through a formal letter issued in December last year,” Bannaruk lamented. Despite the clear prohibition, the construction continued, exacerbated by the heavy rainfall characteristic of the monsoon season. “Massive construction on such sensitive land, categorized as Watershed Class 1A, was always a recipe for disaster,” he added. Unfortunately, the expanded construction likely tipped the scales, inducing the tragic landslide and wreaking havoc on the community nestled at the hill’s base.
The Royal Forest Department isn’t just stopping at verbal rebuke. They’ve filed an official complaint to reclaim the forest area that was wrongfully appropriated for the Buddha project. Plans are already underway to convene a specialized committee for thorough scrutiny of the case. Signs prohibiting entry to the area are also poised to go up as a precautionary measure.
“Once the investigation concludes, we won’t hesitate to dismantle all structures, including the immense Buddha statue,” stated Bannaruk firmly.
Adding to the layers of this multifaceted issue, the Department of Mineral Resources disclosed a critical failure: the landslide warning station had been nonfunctional at the time of the disaster. This breakdown in early warning systems contributed to the scale of the calamity, leaving hillside residents without timely alerts. The department has pledged to address this crucial deficiency by next month, as forecasts predict the torrential rains will persist until October.
It’s a saga of ambitious religious devotion clashing with nature’s unforgiving laws, complicated by procedural overreach and institutional lapses. As the public awaits further developments, one can’t help but ponder the delicate balance between preserving natural sanctity and pursuing spiritual aspirations. For now, the giant Buddha on Nak Koet Hill stands as a somber reminder of the lives lost and the urgent need for responsible stewardship of our natural landscapes.
How could anyone think building such a massive structure on a hill prone to landslides was a good idea?
Exactly! They ignored the warnings, and now people have paid the price.
I can’t believe the Royal Forest Department even approved any part of this plan. It screams negligence.
Negligence is an understatement. It’s criminal. They should be held fully accountable.
We need stricter laws to protect such sensitive lands. This clearly shows our current system is flawed.
It’s not just negligence, it’s greed. These religious organizations exploit land for their giant projects without considering the environmental impact.
That’s unfair! It’s about faith and spirituality. Such projects enhance the community’s moral fabric.
Faith shouldn’t come at the cost of people’s lives. This disaster was entirely preventable.
Faith and spirituality don’t give people a free pass to ignore regulations and endanger lives.
I’m heartbroken for the victims and their families. When will we learn to respect nature?
Probably never, until tragedies like this stop being ‘one-offs’ and become a wake-up call.
Humanity’s track record isn’t promising. We keep repeating the same mistakes.
Sad but true. We talk about change but do very little to enforce it.
I think the statue should be relocated, if possible. It’s a beautiful structure but clearly dangerous where it is.
Relocate it? That would cost millions more and cause further environmental damage!
Better to spend money on relocating it than on dealing with another tragedy.
Or perhaps not build such massive structures on delicate ecosystems in the first place?
Exactly. Prevention is key, but what’s done is done. The focus should now be on reinforcement and disaster management.
A significant part of the problem also stems from the malfunctioning warning systems. That needs fixing ASAP.
Who is going to foot the bill for all this damage, loss of life, and relocation costs?
Hopefully the organization responsible. They extended their project illegally.
Agreed, but such processes are often slow and victims rarely see justice or compensation. 🙄
It’s infuriating! The system needs a major overhaul to make sure justice is served promptly.
There should be an international guideline for projects in high-risk areas. This local negligence has global repercussions.
Agreed! And enforcement needs to be stringent. Too many loopholes and too much local corruption.
Indeed. Corruption is a significant barrier to effective environmental protection.
An international guideline would be a great idea but challenging to implement, sadly.
People have to be more aware of their impact on the environment. This isn’t just a local issue but a worldwide one.
Phuket relies heavily on tourism. This disaster could have long-lasting negative effects on the local economy.
Absolutely. And such negative publicity doesn’t help either. It’s a complex situation.
Perhaps it will motivate better environmental practices. A healthy environment is good for tourism in the long run.
The government really needs to evaluate the impact of its policies and regulations. More oversight is necessary.
You’re right. Regulatory bodies are often underfunded and understaffed, making oversight difficult.
Again, it’s all down to corruption and lack of political will. No one wants to upset powerful organizations.
It’s a vicious cycle. And the common people are the ones who suffer the most.
The malfunctioning landslide warning system was a critical failure. These systems need constant maintenance and updates to be effective.
It’s about time we take climate change seriously in our infrastructural developments.
Couldn’t agree more. Climate change exacerbates these natural disasters, and we’re unprepared.
Climate change awareness needs to be at the core of our development strategies.