Footage shows the terrifying moment a statue toppled over at a Thai monastery – leaving one monk dead and five more being treated in hospital for their injuries
Footage shows one monk and a dog running away before giant Buddha statue collapses
The horrifying moment a giant statue of Buddha collapsed killing a monk has been captured on film.
The 29ft (9m) statue was being built for good luck at the Kaeng Khan Sung Monastery in eastern Thailand’s Amnat Charoen province – but it it is thought to have toppled over because of strong winds. One monk – and a dog – managed to run away with just seconds to spare.
But one monk, named as Patipan Udonlap, 37, was killed in the horror accident on November 29. Five others were injured and taken to the Amnat Charoen hospital.
One of the injured was named as 33-year-old Paiwan Wantangphong, who told Amarin TV that he was at some distance from the statue and sustained injuries from falling fragments. He speculated that strong winds may have caused the collapse but could not be certain about the exact cause.
Locals interviewed on Thailand’s Channel 7 station claimed the building process had been hampered by a number of mishaps. Some claimed the statue’s location was previously the site of an antique house and the spirits tied to the land might have been displeased with the changes.
Temple abbott Wirachate Chinwangso said the construction had been overseen by a monk from another temple and claimed the statue moulds had been removed just one night after the concrete had been poured. He said: ‘The monk in charge said the concrete had already dried and was stable.
“I objected but he insisted it was already safe. I couldn’t argue with him because I don’t have knowledge about construction.’ He added that the construction may have been rushed as the moulds were urgently needed by another temple.
Police Colonel Chotinarin Supawarat, superintendent of the Chanuman District Police Station, said: ‘The monks who worked on the statue have experience building statues of similar size. No one has been charged because we need to look into the cause of the incident first. We will continue the investigation and consult with public works and forensics officers to inspect the site.’
Ananchai Chaiyadate, a prominent lawyer and president of the Dhamma Lawyer Army Foundation, urged government officials to enforce stricter regulations for temple construction projects. He said many temples in the northeastern Isaan region fail to secure permits or hire qualified professionals.
In September, a Buddha statue was decapitated during a storm, sparking apocalypse fears among locals in Chiang Mai province. The head of the 200ft reclining Buddha statue broke off amid heavy rain at the Wat Phra That Doi Saket temple on September 13.
Authorities cordoned off the area and initially tried to hide the broken statue by covering it with canvas, fearing villagers would see it as an ill portent. Monks said they held a ceremony to enshrine a Buddha heart into the statue on September 12 but its head fell early morning the very next day.
