Heavy Rain Collapses Temple Wall, Damages Motorcycles And Cremation Niches

Heavy overnight rain caused a temple wall to collapse in Ban Klong Yai Village, Tambon Nong Irun, Ban Bung District, Chonburi Province on September 24, affecting homes, vehicles, and cremation niches. Continuous heavy rain from evening until 5 a.m. saturated the soil, causing the approximately 50-meter rear wall of Klong Yai Temple to give way and strike a parking structure, damaging support posts and crushing one resident's motorcycle. Hundreds of ash niches where families had stored cremated remains along the wall were destroyed.

Investigation revealed the wall stood 1.5 meters high behind the temple next to an alley used by locals. Officials including Nong Irun Subdistrict Administrator Pawichyach Thewapradaab and Village Headman Piyarat Rabai inspected the site and advised residents to retrieve and temporarily relocate cremated remains to the temple's monastic quarters pending wall reconstruction. Sompon, 39, and Ratchanee, 32, whose home sits behind the collapsed wall, recounted the frightening incident and noted their pickup truck was fortunately parked elsewhere. Sompon moved his mother's ashes to safety following temple recommendations. The temple committee will discuss repair or reconstruction options before families can return their loved ones' remains to the original burial site.