Ayutthaya's historical sites have withstood centuries of flooding, but the latest deluge may have delivered a fatal blow to some of the ancient capital's World Heritage-protected sites.
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| Workers build a scaffold to sustain the dramatically leaning temple wall at Wat Phra Sri Sanphet temple. |
Damage to the buildings was compounded by the floodwater both surrounding the sites too quickly, and then being released too rapidly.
Fine Arts Department civil engineer Therdsak Yenjura says the structures have brick bases resting on soil without proper foundations.
When the soil is soaked, the walls of the structures subside and lean in on each other. Uneven weight distribution of the structures increases pressure points.
Subsidence and weakening of the structures can be eased if the floodwater surrounding a historical structure is let out slowly, but this year over-eager local officials pumped the water out too quickly.
"If we change the conditions too quickly, it is hard for the sites to adjust and then they can suffer 'shock' from the changing conditions," said Mr Therdsak.
Archaeologists need to conduct further inspections to determine how many of about 130 flooded ancient sites in Ayutthaya have been seriously affected.
As a precautionary measure, authorities have decided not to quickly drain two-metre-deep floodwater surrounding Wat Chaiwattanaram, a major tourist attraction, for fear it could cause further damage.
At Phra Sri Sanphet temple, a stupa on the western side has had its brick foundations broken, as if pushed out by pressure from within.
The stupa is now leaning forward and was only noticed by a group of experts from Unesco and the Fine Arts Department on a recent inspection to determine the extent of damage to the historical sites.
"The stupa has demonstrated this symptom, which has not yet been given serious attention yet," said associate professor Warakorn Mairaing from the Engineering Institute of Thailand, who advises the bodies.
Ayutthaya city, which gained World Heritage status in 1991, has undergone major development to cope with population growth and tourism demands, and it has a well-planned drainage system that has served it well in past floods.
But those protecting the status of the area now agree that a new plan may be needed to protect Ayutthaya better from future flooding.
Mr Warakorn said a group of experts would meet this week to discuss possible short and long-term strategies to help safeguard the region's historical sites.
The possibility of building dykes around the sites has been raised, but critics say this would be out of kilter with the historical value of the area.
Vasu Poshyanandana, assistant secretary of the International Council on Monuments and Sites, Thailand, an advisory body to Unesco, said lessons could be learned from the past to address the issue.
Mr Vasu, also an official at the Fine Arts Department, said Ayutthaya was originally built with the understanding that it was surrounded by major rivers and would inevitably be flooded on occasion.
He said one possibility was reviving the ancient flood control system which used high walls and canals to control waters inside the city boundaries.
"Ayutthaya is not just about old structures, but it's a city with knowledge and wisdom," said Mr Vasu. "Ancient wisdom can be revived to help the city survive in modern times."
Phra Maha Cherdchai Katapunyo, the assistant abbot at Wat Phanang Cherng temple outside the old city said long-term prevention against flooding for the old city of Ayutthaya was needed to preserve it for the next generation.
The temple narrowly avoided being flooded this year by quickly erecting a 3.5m sandbag dyke.
Phra Maha Cherdchai Katapunyo said the temple staff could not fight the floodwater on their own.
"Our ancestors knew well what the situation was and that's why they developed city planning and a drainage system that would help save the city," he said.
"What we need now is a vision that can help us deal with modern problems and that serves our best interests over the long term."
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