Irreparable damage was done to the famous moai statues on Easter Island in the Pacific Ocean (Chile) due to a fire. It began on October 4 and was brought under control only a day later.
According to The Guardian, wildfire engulfed more than 100 hectares of Rapa Nui National Park. Some moai were completely burned. The area around the Rano Raraku volcano, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was hit hardest.
Rapa Nui is home to over 1,000 stone statues, giant heads believed to have been carved in the 13th century by the natives of the island. The composition of the rock from which they are made is exposed to high temperatures. The park says authorities have been unable to bring the fire under control due to a lack of volunteers.
Easter Island Mayor Pedro Edmunds Paoa said the fire was unlikely to have started by accident. All fires on Rapa Nui, in his opinion, are caused by human activity.
“The damage caused by the fire cannot be repaired. A cracked original symbolic stone cannot be restored, no matter how many millions of euros or dollars are invested in it,” the mayor said.
The fire occurred just two months following the island opened on 5 August. Before that, tourists might not get there for two years due to the coronavirus.
