Pagoda collapse kills 1, wounds 4 in Kalasin

One worker was killed and four others injured when an old pagoda being renovated in Kuchinarai district of Kalasin province collapsed Morning morning, police said.

The pagoda is located inside Wat Pa Kut Wa in tambon Kut Wa of Kuchinarai district.

Four workers were injured and one killed when the pagoda crumbled. The killed worker, Wan Phrakhiew, was trapped underneath the debris.

The injured were admitted to Kalasin Hospital. Most of them sustained broken arms and legs.

After being reported on the collapse, Kraisorn Kongchalard, the Kalasin governor, issued an order for Pichai Songsuklertsanti, the Kuchinarai district chief, and local administrative and medical officials to rush to the scene for examination and to provide assistance to affected people.

The pagoda, officially named Phra That Sum Hun, is 108 years old. The temple began to renovate it in 2014, with an intention to extend the spire to be 39 metres high.

At the height of 29 metres, the pagoda collapsed. The cause of the collapse was being investigated.

The body of the killed worker had been removed from the debris.