Temple in sea highlights Bangkok’s vulnerability to rising sea levels
Wat Khun Samut Chin in Samut Prakan stands as a vivid reminder of Bangkok’s growing risks from rising sea levels and coastal erosion, projected to worsen by 2050.
Dr Sonthi Kotchawat, an environmental expert, emphasised on social media that the temple’s predicament is clear evidence of the challenges facing both Bangkok and Samut Prakan due to climate change.
Historically, the temple was surrounded by 76 rai of land, but relentless coastal erosion has reduced this to just five rai. The temple, located in Tambon Laem Fah Pha near the Chao Phraya River’s mouth, illustrates the perilous effects of global warming and land subsidence.
Bangkok’s land subsides at about one to two centimetres annually, while sea levels rise by approximately 5.8 centimetres each year. These concerning trends indicate a potential for significant flooding in Bangkok and Samut Prakan by 2050.
Originally constructed during King Rama V’s reign, the temple’s surrounding land was a donation from a Chinese migrant community during the early Rattanakosin era. Now, much of it has succumbed to the sea, with the coast retreating by roughly one kilometre in recent decades.
This situation underscores the urgent need for proactive measures to mitigate the impacts of climate change and protect vulnerable areas from future inundation.
Source: Adapted by ASEAN Now from The Nation 2025-07-02
