Phuket Big Buddha is Now Temporarily Closed 

Phuket –

The Phuket Big Buddha on the Nerk Kerd Mountain is temporarily closed for tourism.

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.

The Department of Mineral Resources has confirmed soil indicators used to detect possible landslides are not working due to a lack of budget and maintenance.

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

Now for the update:

The Karon Police told the Phuket Express that on Monday (September 2^nd) they inspected the Phuket Big Buddha in Karon. The entrance is temporarily closed with signs stating ‘We are temporarily closed. Sorry for the inconvenience.’ The closure sign did not mention the period of the closure.

The closure came after the Provincial Monk Leader issued an order on August 31^st to stop any activity at the Phuket Big Buddha while an investigation was being continued. However the order did not mention the period of the closure.

The Phuket Express noted that the Phuket Big Buddha is overseen by the Phra Phuttha Ming Mongkhon Sattha Foundation. However, the place is registered as a Buddha Garden which is under the Kata Temple (Kitti Sangkharam Temple) in Karon.