‘Irreparable damage’: Fire chars iconic Easter Island statues
Fire chars iconic Easter Island statues Some of Easter Island’s megalithic statues have been damaged by a fire and will likely turn into sand, according to the mayor of the remote island. (NCD)
ByJeff MacDonald, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
SANTIAGO, Chile — Some of Easter Island’s megalithic statues have been damaged by a fire and will likely turn into sand, according to the mayor of the remote island.
On Monday, a wildfire burned inside the Rano Raraku volcanic crater in Rapa Nui National Park. At least 100 carved stone figures, known locally as moai, are located in the burned area, and around 20 percent have been damaged, Mayor Pedro Edmunds Paoa told The Associated Press.
Ariki Tepano, who manages the park, told CNN that the damage is “irreparable.” The high temperature of the fire accelerated the process through which the stone carvings would eventually turn into sand, according to Edmunds Paoa.
Rapa Nui National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, has over 800 moais ranging from 6 to more than 30 feet tall.
The island, which was reopened to tourists in August following the COVID-19 pandemic, lies in the middle of the Pacific Ocean over 2,100 miles off the coast of Chile.
0 of 9
Easter Island fire damages some statues A fire that ripped through part of Chile’s Easter Island this week has caused permanent damage to some of its iconic carved stone figures known as moai, authorities said. (Municipality of Rapa Nui)
Easter Island fire damages some statues A fire that ripped through part of Chile’s Easter Island this week has caused permanent damage to some of its iconic carved stone figures known as moai, authorities said. (Municipality of Rapa Nui)
Easter Island fire damages some statues A fire that ripped through part of Chile’s Easter Island this week has caused permanent damage to some of its iconic carved stone figures known as moai, authorities said. (Municipality of Rapa Nui)
Easter Island fire damages some statues A fire that ripped through part of Chile’s Easter Island this week has caused permanent damage to some of its iconic carved stone figures known as moai, authorities said. (Municipality of Rapa Nui)
Easter Island fire damages some statues A fire that ripped through part of Chile’s Easter Island this week has caused permanent damage to some of its iconic carved stone figures known as moai, authorities said. (Municipality of Rapa Nui)
Easter Island fire damages some statues A fire that ripped through part of Chile’s Easter Island this week has caused permanent damage to some of its iconic carved stone figures known as moai, authorities said. (Municipality of Rapa Nui)
Easter Island fire damages some statues A fire that ripped through part of Chile’s Easter Island this week has caused permanent damage to some of its iconic carved stone figures known as moai, authorities said. (Municipality of Rapa Nui)
Easter Island fire damages some statues A fire that ripped through part of Chile’s Easter Island this week has caused permanent damage to some of its iconic carved stone figures known as moai, authorities said. (PABLO COZZAGLIO/AFP via Getty Images)
Sign Up
