In its office in Santiago de Chile, Unesco reported that a forest fire in October 2022 severely damaged 22 moais (monolithic human figures) on Easter Island, located in Polynesia, Chile.
The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization conducted a study on the archaeological resources of the island, emphasizing the urgent need for immediate interventions to protect and preserve this globally renowned heritage site.
Unesco’s representative in Chile, Claudia Uribe, emphasized the cultural and heritage value of Easter Island and stressed the importance of coordinated efforts to safeguard its precious legacy.
Unesco will continue to support recovery efforts and raise awareness about the significance of protecting heritage while strengthening local capacities in managing and conserving the World Heritage site.
Unesco and the Mau Henua indigenous community, government entities, and civil society have initiated response actions to assess the damage and develop a risk management plan for the affected Rano Raraku site.
This plan aims to evaluate the site’s conservation status after the fire, enhance local capacities to prevent future disasters, and enable coordinated and timely responses to any calamities to protect the island’s valuable cultural and archaeological assets.
The fire, which began on October 4 last year, spread across approximately 240 hectares, affecting the Rano Raraku volcano’s crater, quarry, and surrounding areas.
The high temperatures from the fire compromised the preservation of numerous archaeological resources, with additional damage caused by various factors.
Easter Island, located in the Pacific Ocean, spans an area of 163.6 square kilometers and is home to around 7,750 inhabitants, predominantly concentrated in the capital town of Hanga Roa.
The island is separated from the Chilean mainland by over 3,700 kilometers of sea.