UPDATE: Phuket Big Buddha Allegedly Encroaches Onto Forest Reserve, Says Government Officials

Phuket –

The Royal Forest Department has confirmed that some areas at the Big Buddha have encroached illegally into a reserve forest.

Our previous stories:

Phuket has been announced as a disaster zone in which 209 families are currently suffering from the effects of landslides and flash floods, announced relevant officials.

Thirteen people have been found dead including two Russian nationals after a landslide in Karon on Friday early in the morning (August 23^rd).

A local in Phuket has filed a letter to the Phuket Governor asking for a formal investigation to find the causes of a landslide on the Nark Kerd Hill in Karon, Mueang Phuket.

The Karon Mayor has confirmed that no legal license was requested for some construction on the Phuket Big Buddha.

Now for the update:

Officials led by the Royal Forest Department inspected the Phuket Big Buddha on Tuesday (August 27^th). They stated to the local press that the legal permission to build structures in the reserve forest on the Nark Kerd Mountain is on 15 Rai plots of land.

However, after officials checked the GPS locations, they found that there are six structures that have been expanded on to five Rais plot of land outside the legal permission area. Those expansions are for parking space, toilets, and some support buildings.

The Royal Forest Department has filed a report to police over reserve forest encroachment. The Phuket Express noted that the Phuket Big Buddha has been built since 22 years ago and is still unfinished. The place is being taken care by the Phra Phuttha Ming Mongkhon Sattha Foundation.