Wildfire Breaks Out on Chilean Volcanic Island in South Pacific... Severe Damage to Surrounding Areas
Local Authorities Investigate, Believing Fire Started by Arson
Easter Island Mayor: "Cannot Be Recovered Even with Millions of Euros or Dollars"
A wildfire broke out on the 3rd (local time) at Rapa Nui National Park on Easter Island, Chile, located in the South Pacific, causing the Moai statues to become blackened. Photo by AFP Yonhap News
[Asia Economy Culture Young Intern Reporter] Several 'Moai' statues were damaged in a wildfire on Easter Island, a volcanic island located in the South Pacific, according to foreign media including AFP and BBC on the 6th (local time).
According to Chilean authorities, a fire broke out on Easter Island on the 3rd, burning an area of about 100 hectares (1 million square meters). The area around the Rano Raraku volcano within Rapa Nui National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage site, suffered significant damage.
As a result, some of the hundreds of basalt Moai statues gathered there were damaged, with black soot marks caused by flames and smoke.
Carolina Perez, Deputy Minister of Chile's Ministry of Culture and Arts Heritage, said on Twitter, "Thanks to the firebreaks built by the local community, the quarry was prevented from being completely burned," but added, "About 60 hectares, including some Moai statues, were affected."
Easter Island was closed for over two years to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and was reopened to the outside world on August 5th. This incident occurred about two months after the reopening. Local authorities are investigating the exact cause and extent of the damage, suspecting the wildfire started from arson.
Pedro Edmund Paoa, mayor of Easter Island, lamented in an interview with local media, "The damage caused by the fire is irreversible," adding, "No matter if millions of euros or dollars are spent, the cracks formed on these unique and symbolic statues cannot be restored."
A representative of Rapa Nui National Park also stated, "The Moai are completely blackened," and "If you look closely at the statues, you can see traces of fire."
The Moai statues on Easter Island, located about 3,500 km from mainland Chile, have human face shapes and were revealed to the world when European explorers discovered the island in the 18th century. There are about 1,000 Moai statues on Easter Island, estimated to have been made up to 1,000 years ago, with the largest being 10 meters tall and weighing 80 tons.
Although who made the Moai, how, and why remain unclear, the indigenous people of Easter Island, called Rapa Nui, regard the Moai as sacred beings possessing the spirits of their ancestors.
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