Historical sites restored

Fine Arts Department says it is restoring six archaeological sites in Bangkok which were damaged by severe flooding last year. The department’s Archaeology Office director, Tharapong Srisuchat, said a budget of Bt35.5 million will be spent on improving drainage systems and installing emergency water pumps in the six prioritised archaeological sites. Most of them are about 250 years old, and are on the banks of the Chao Phraya River. The six sites are Wat Sawettachat, Wat Chatkeaw Jongkonnee, Wat Maha That Yuwarat Rangsarit (Wat Maha That), Wat Arun Ratchawararam (Temple of the Dawn), Wat Jaturamit Pradittharam, and Bangor Mosque. “The work being undertaken includes adjusting floor levels and restoring the landscape,” the director explained. Mr Tharapong added: “The restoration is in progress and the department has also supervised restoration of other archaeological sites, based on other funding.” There were 313 archaeological sites across the country that were damaged by last year’s floods, and about Bt1.4 billion is needed to restore all of them. On the weather front, Science and Technology Minister and Water and Flood Management Committee chairman, Plodprasop Surassawadee, said there is a possible of a storm surge and waves up to 4 metres high, particularly in Phetchaburi, as Gaemi triggered heavy rainfall in some eastern provinces. “Fishermen should avoid going out to sea for the next couple of days. Particularly in Phetchaburi province on the Gulf of Thailand, giant waves are expected,” he said. Chulalongkorn University’s faculty of science’s natural disaster studies unit head, Thanawat Jarupongsakul, said an analysis of the storm’s route showed it would weaken into a depression as it moved out to sea. “Waves in the Gulf of Thailand could reach about 30 cm high on average, not as high as the 4 to 5 metres suggested by the WFMC.” Bangkok will experience heavy rain during the next few days. The Meteorological Department deputy general director, Somchai Baimuang, said the weather is expected to return to normal this Wednesday after Gaemi has become a low pressure cell. The low pressure cell on Monday was moving in a westerly direction towards Nakhon Pathom, Kanchanaburi and the Andaman Sea. He said the storm Phra Phiroon which is forming in the area east of the Philippines would not affect Thailand. However, fishing boats were advised to proceed with caution and small boats should remain ashore because there could be  high waves. Nine provinces have suffered floods: Prachinburi; Chachoengsao; Phitsanulok; Phichit; Angthong; Ayutthaya; Suphan Buri; Nakhon Pathom; and Samut Prakan. Meanwhile to lighten our day, the Northern Metrological Department said it was possible that northern provinces will experience snow this year. “This year, Thailand will face more cool weather and it will last  longer, which could cause snow falls in Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai,” the report claimed. This could give tourists visiting  the north their first white Christmas if the  sites where  snow will fall could be accurately predicted. Cool weather from China is moving into Thailand reducing temperatures that will make December the coolest on record. According to the department, snow occurred in Chiang Rai in 1955 and 1958.