NAN, Thailand – The Fine Arts Department has confirmed that Wat Phumin’s ordination hall in Nan Province remains structurally sound and safe following recent flooding. Fine Arts Department Director-General Phnombootra Chandrajoti addressed concerns about cracks and settlement on the building’s eastern side. Flooding in Nan from August 19 to 21 led the 7th Regional Office of Fine Arts in Chiang Mai to inspect Wat Phumin and other historic sites.
The inspection found no flood damage to the monument or the murals inside the ordination hall. The visible cracks, identified after the 2025 floods, are limited to surface layers and do not affect the internal structure. Engineering and archaeological investigations in late 2025 found cracks around the decorative base, entrances, and stairways. These resulted from differential settlement between the ordination hall and the surrounding courtyard. Since the hall has settled evenly, cracks on the building remain minor and are concentrated at the base.
Restoration plans are underway. Immediate measures may include reinforcing the foundations beneath the walls and separating the hall from the courtyard structure to address different settlement rates. In a later phase, conservation engineers may lift and level sections of the structure and reinforce pile foundations beneath the walls, roof-supporting columns, and principal Buddha image. The Director-General confirmed that the department will continue conserving Wat Phumin’s historic structures, murals, and Buddha images, and will support restoration at nearby heritage sites such as Wat Chang Kham. (NNT)
