A fire causes irreparable damage to numerous moai on Easter Island

Once again, human action is responsible for an archaeological disaster in one of the most iconic landscapes on the planet.

A firesupposedly provoked, has burned numerous moai of the Easter Islandknown by the natives as Rapa Nui. According to local authorities, “the damage is irreparable.”

On November 5, the mayor of Easter Island, Pedro Edmunds Paoa, reported a fire in Rapa Nui, which would have burned 100 hectares of land. numerous moai have been affected, to varying degrees.

The mayor believes that the fire “was not an accident”, and adds that “all fires in Rapa Nui are caused by human beings”, according to the website IFL Science. It also blames Chile’s national authorities for not funding a fire prevention plan for this “open-air museum.”

The moai of Rapa Nui, burned in a fire

The fire took place next to Rano Raraku volcano, which is off. Since in the Easter Island trees and dry vegetation are scarce, it is difficult for a massive fire to occur due to natural causes.

The Undersecretary of Cultural Heritage of the Chilean Ministry of Culture, Carolina Pérez, has published some photos of the cultural tragedy:

We regret this serious fire in #Rapa Nui in the Rano Raraku volcano, affecting the World Heritage Site. Just two days ago, the fire swept through more than 100 hectares on the island. We offer our full support to the mayor of @Muni_RapanuiPedro Edmunds Paoa. pic.twitter.com/PgVowJbSBA

– Carolina Pérez Dattari (@caroperezdattar) October 5, 2022

According to Ariki Tepano on Facebookdirector of the Ma’u Henua community in charge of the administration and maintenance of the park, the moai burning it is “irreparable and with consequences beyond what your eyes can see, the moai are totally burned and the effect of the fire is seen on them”.

It is estimated that at least 30 moai have been affected by the fire, since they are the ones in the crater of the volcano. But it could be many more.

In Rapa Nuiofficially called Easter Island after becoming part of Chile, there have been nearly 900 moai, anthropomorphic statues over 4 meters high. Although it is suspected that there are many more buried.

It is a unique phenomenon that only occurs on this island, which is only 163 square kilometers. The moai are between 1,300 and 400 years oldbut as there is no written culture on the island, it is not known why they were built, nor their purpose.

The fire on Easter Island that has burned dozens of moai makes clear the need for greater protection of this “open-air museum”, as the mayor of Rapa Nui. A museum that is also unique in the world.