THAILAND - Floods destroying ancient Thai city

eTN, 20-10-2006

Officials in Thailand say three months of flooding have turned the foundations of the ancient city of Wiang Kum Kam into mud.
The head of Thailand's provincial fine arts office, Sahawat Naenna, said the immense flooding in the ancient city's area has caused more than $75,000 in damage to the city's brick foundation, the Bangkok Post said. Wiang Kum Kam was originally founded around 1286 by King Meng Rai and became the capital of the Lanna kingdom before flooding forced the ruler to move his capital to Chiang Mai. After eventually being buried by the area's floods, the city was unearthed in 1984 and was opened in 2004 as a tourist attraction. The Post said that while a request has been made to government officials for funds to safeguard the national monument, to date to allowances have been made.