Experts to check sites at Ayutthaya

Four experts from UNESCO will survey the flood-damaged ancient sites of Ayutthaya this week, Fine Arts Department director-general Somsuda Leeyavanich said yesterday.

Two experts from Japan (one for water management and another for ancient site restoration), plus an expert on wall painting from Italy and an expert on water management from Holland would join Unesco Thailand in surveying and restoring flood-damaged ancient sites.

They would study the restoration of ancient sites in Bangkok before inspecting Ayutthaya's World Heritage Sites such as the Portuguese Village, Phom Phet fort, Wat Chaiwattanaram and the reclining Buddha at Wat Lokayasutharam in Ayutthaya Historic Park over the next two days.

Assessments by the UN experts, plus information from Fine Arts Department officials and Thai engineers would be analysed to find solutions and restoration guidelines for each ancient site, she said.

Somsuda said officials were working on a restoration plan for 313 flood-affected ancient sites nationwide, as assigned by Culture Minister Sukumol Kunplome.

A source at the national Flood Relief Operation Centre reported that Fine Arts deputy chief Anek Sihamas said there were 313 flood-damaged ancient sites in the North, Central and Northeast. He said the restoration plan being drawn up had two main parts: post-flood inspection of structure and soil, plus a detailed look at the sites' components, which would focus on strengthening structures to withstand future flooding. Anek said the restoration budget was initially set at Bt1.4 billion.