web DeskCulture Minister concerned about flooding in the North, reveals Wat Phumin, Nan Province, world-famous Whisper of Love mural, water has not yet reached the temple, and has set up a coordination center for flood impacts via the 1765 cultural hotline.
Ms. Sudawan Wangsupakitchkosol, Minister of Culture, revealed that the impact of the flood on ancient sites in the northern region has been closely monitored. The Office of the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Culture reported that the provincial cultural offices and royal funeral ceremonies in the area have been affected, especially the royal funeral ceremonies at Phrae Provincial Cultural Office, located at Wat Song Kwae, Pa Mat Subdistrict, Mueang Phrae District, Phrae Province. The water has arrived quickly. Officials have been instructed to urgently move items and funeral accessories immediately because if the water level rises any higher, there is a risk of damage. Currently, civil servants and security officers are closely monitoring the flood situa
tion.
However, the Royal Funeral Ceremony Group, Phrae Provincial Cultural Office has announced that due to the flooding incident, the request for royal cremation instead of the original Royal Cremation Request Coordination Room, Phrae Provincial Hall, can now be requested by the heirs of the deceased at the meeting room of Thung Hong Subdistrict Municipality, Mueang Phrae District, Phrae Province, telephone numbers 06 5523 4058, 08 1137 5191, 08 1297 8396, 08 6911 4844 and Facebook: Royal Funeral Ceremony Group, Phrae Provincial Cultural Office.
Ms. Sudawan continued that in this regard, in order for the work of the officials performing the royal funeral ceremonies of the royal funeral ceremony group and the royal funeral ceremony management group to proceed smoothly and continuously, especially the provinces affected by the flood situation and are currently monitoring the flood situation, the Provincial Cultural Office is requested to proceed as follows:
1. Move the funeral honors and equipment used in t
he royal funeral ceremony to a safe place for safekeeping. 2. Announce details of contact channels to request royal permission for the royal funeral ceremony and perform duties in the royal funeral ceremony according to the royal command in flood-affected areas. Announce details of contact channels to request services for the host, heirs and people in the area.
3. Provinces that are monitoring the flood situation ask officials to closely monitor the situation to watch out for possible flooding in the area and to prepare to move the funeral honors and equipment used in the royal funeral ceremony. 4. Report the flood situation that has affected and the need for assistance to the Royal Funeral Ceremony Division, Office of the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Culture, as soon as possible.
The Minister of Culture said that the Fine Arts Department reported that the continuous rain for several days in the upper northern region has resulted in flooding, overflowing rivers, and flooding of fields in many areas of N
an, Phayao, and Chiang Rai provinces. Currently, the Fine Arts Department, through the 7th Fine Arts Office in Chiang Mai, has visited the area and coordinated with the volunteer network to take care of the cultural heritage in the area.
The Minister of Culture said that he had received reports on the impact on ancient sites in 3 provinces as follows: Nan Province, 3 places: 1. Wat Nong Bua, Tha Wang Pha District, Nan Province, which has an ancient site, a temple with mural paintings. The water level reached inside the temple but not yet reached the paintings, which were about 50 cm higher than the flood level. Therefore, the paintings were not directly affected by the flood.
2. Wat Phumin, Mueang District, Nan Province. The ancient site is the Chaturamuk Wihan with murals (Pu Man Ya Man). Currently, the water has not yet reached the top of the Wihan because this building has a high base and stairs that reach the top of the Wihan. The water only covers the stairs. And 3. Nan National Museum. Currently, the
water has not yet flooded the area because it is located in the highest area of ??Nan. Officials are monitoring the area at all times and allow cars to be parked inside during this period to alleviate damage to people’s property.
In Phayao Province, the affected historical site is the ancient city of Wiang Lo, Chun District, Phayao Province. This city is located on the banks of the Ing River, so the water overflowed the banks and flooded the entire ancient city. Many places were flooded, but no damage was found to the buildings. In Chiang Rai Province, the affected historical site is Wat Sao Hin, a large temple and pagoda. There was flooding in the area around the building, but no damage to the building has been reported.
Ms. Sudawan added that the Fine Arts Department has set the following guidelines for solving the problem: 1. Closely monitor the situation. 2. Continuously listen to information from Fine Arts Department volunteers in the area. 3. After the water recedes, enter the area to inspect the cond
ition and damage immediately. In particular, damaged artworks must be urgently conserved.
4. Set measures to reduce the risk of ancient sites during this rainy season if there is continuous heavy rain in the future, such as preventing water from flooding into ancient sites or other measures that are appropriate for the area. 5. If damage is found to ancient sites, immediately notify the Fine Arts Department to take urgent emergency action.
However, the overall picture of the Ministry of Culture is concerned and would like to give encouragement to all civil servants and officials. Therefore, it has ordered the establishment of a coordination center for ancient sites affected by the flood situation, using the 1765 cultural hotline to receive information and collect data from agencies under its jurisdiction, the provincial cultural office, and the royal funeral ceremony division, including ancient sites affected by the flood situation, in order to summarize information for surveying and inspecting the damage a
fter the situation improves, including creating an initial assistance plan and future restoration and repair.
Source: Thai News Agency
