The update was provided by Phra Khru Wisutkitiyaphon, abbot of Wat Kittisangkharam (Wat Kata), who said the temple intends to reopen the site once a short period of renovation and cleaning has been completed.
“Wat Kata intends to open the Big Buddha to the public in February, but we cannot specify the exact date yet,” the abbot said.
He confirmed that the temple has already received a permit from the Phuket branch of the Royal Forest Department, adding that preparations are now focused on improving site conditions after a prolonged closure.
“We have already received permission from the Phuket Forestry Office. We just need a short period for improvements and cleaning, then we will open the site to visitors in February,” he said.
Addressing ongoing legal proceedings linked to the deadly landslide in August 2024, the abbot stressed that Wat Kata is not involved in the court case or compensation process.
Regarding responsibility for the case and affected victims, he explained that the Phra Phuttha Ming Mongkol Sattha 45 Foundation, no longer oversees operations at the Big Buddha site.
Operational control has now been assumed directly by Wat Kata. The foundation will not be involved until court proceedings and compensation matters have been concluded, Phra Khru Wisutkitiyaphon explained.
“At this stage, Wat Kata is only taking care of matters related to the Big Buddha itself,” he said.
“The foundation will not be involved with the Big Buddha until the court case and compensation process are completed, and Wat Kata has no involvement in the legal case,” Phra Khru Wisutkitiyaphon repeated. He declined to comment further on the matter.
As previously reported by The Phuket News, the Big Buddha viewpoint has remained closed since a landslide triggered by heavy rain in the early hours of Aug 23, 2024, killed 13 people, injured 19 others and damaged dozens of homes in Kata.
The landslide sent soil cascading down the hillside into residential areas of Soi Patak 2, prompting affected residents to file a class action lawsuit against the Phra Phuttha Ming Mongkol Sattha 45 Foundation.
The class action came after a report by the Department of Mineral Resources investigation listed the new parking lot and nearby restroom constructed at the Big Buddha Viewpoint as factors that contributed to the cause of the deadly landslide.
The class action also followed Suporn Wanichkul, chairman of the Phra Phuttha Ming Mongol Sattha 45 Foundation, being charged with illegal encroachment and clearing of protected forest land ‒ but after nine months of investigating, Karon police dropped the charge.
In November last year, the Phuket Provincial Court accepted the case as Civil Case No. 520/2568. Compensation negotiations have taken place, but no settlement has yet been reached, and the court has not scheduled a judgement date.
At a meeting between the local residents and victims families late last year, Rattanawangso Panrak, representing Wat Kata, at the time said plainly, “The Big Buddha viewpoint will remain closed until compensation is paid to affected residents and the court case is concluded.”
Obviously, that is no longer the case.
The Big Buddha viewpoint was temporarily reopened to visitors from Dec 31 to Jan 3. Phra Khru Wisutkitiyaphon said that the site was opened to allow people to make merit during the New Year period. The site closed again on Jan 4 due to unresolved legal and administrative requirements, as well as site deterioration.
Meanwhile, Phuket MPs Chalermpong Saengdee and Thitikan Thitipruethikul publicly called for the Anti-Money Laundering Office (AMLO) to investigate the financial dealings of the Phra Phuttha Ming Mongkol Sattha 45 Foundation. Yet, those requests have been met with silence.
The February reopening, if it proceeds as planned, would mark the first full reopening of the Big Buddha site since the deadly landslide more than a year ago.