Five arm-shaped statues, originally designed to point skyward on the coast of Hoang Tien commune, no longer resemble their initial form. Four of the five have been tilted towards the sea at an angle of approximately 30-45 degrees.
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One of the four tilted arm statues in Hai Tien. Photo: Le Hoang |
One of the four tilted arm statues in Hai Tien. Photo: Le Hoang
Local vendors in Hai Tien say that before Typhoon Kajiki made landfall, the statues had already lost several structural components, such as stairs and roofing, but remained upright. However, the combined force of Typhoon Kajiki's winds and strong tides caused most of them to topple. Only one statue remains in its original position.
The statues' dislodged bases have exposed reinforcing iron bars beneath the sand, creating potential hazards for beachgoers and those attempting to climb the structures for photographs.
Typhoon Kajiki not only damaged the arm statues but also caused cracks and fractures in several sections of the seawall and sidewalks along the Hai Tien coastline.
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Only one arm remains in its original position. Photo: Le Hoang |
Only one arm remains in its original position. Photo: Le Hoang
On 4/9, a representative from the People's Committee of Hoang Tien commune stated that due to the damage and unappealing appearance of the arm statues, the local government plans to dismantle and relocate them, restoring the beaches of Hai Tien to their original state.
In 3/2023, the former People's Committee of Hoang Hoa district implemented a project to repair and renovate the coastal road in the Hai Tien tourist area with a total investment of approximately 10 billion VND. The five giant arm statues were part of this project.
The five statues, each depicting a half-raised arm with outstretched fingers, are constructed of reinforced concrete, covered with red brick and cement. Each arm measures over 4 meters in height, with the elbow's widest point having a diameter of about one meter. The circular base, also made of concrete, has a circumference of approximately 6 meters.
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The arm statues upon completion in 2023. Photo: Le Hoang |
The arm statues upon completion in 2023. Photo: Le Hoang
Following the statues' installation, many residents and tourists criticized them as clunky, disruptive to the natural landscape, and obstructive to the beach area already shrinking due to coastal erosion in recent years. The concrete structures were also seen as potential hazards to swimmers.
At the time, the leadership of the People's Committee of Hoang Hoa district explained that the structures were watchtowers designed to monitor beachgoers and provide assistance in emergencies. They also argued that the statues created a novel landscape feature for tourists to photograph. Each statue cost 60 million VND, funded by the budget.
Regarding the design, local leaders said they had consulted watchtower models from various tourist areas and decided on the hand shape.
Damaged and tilted arm statues in Hai Tien. Video: Le Hoang
Hai Tien is nearly 20 km from the former Thanh Hoa city. Along with Sam Son and Hai Hoa, Hai Tien is one of Thanh Hoa's beautiful beaches, popular with tourists in recent years. The Hai Tien coastline stretches for approximately 12 km, featuring long sandy beaches, many of which remain untouched. The Hai Tien tourist area currently has nearly 100 accommodations with approximately 6,500 rooms, welcoming close to 1.5 million visitors annually.
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