a fire damages a hundred moai statues

The mythical moai statues ofÎEaster (Chile) are still being swept away by smoke. Around them, a blackened earth. The fire progressed four days in the national park, before reaching the area of ​​the volcano, where these stone giants, which make the reputation of the Chilean island throughout the world, are the most numerous. According to local authorities, the fire, probably of criminal origin, damaged nearly a hundred statues, or 20% of them, some irreparably, due to cracks caused by the heat.

A disaster for the 8,000 inhabitants ofÎEaster, for which the Moai are sacred. These legendary statues, cut more than 500 years ago in the rock itself, in the walls of this quarry, represent for them their ancestors. A unique volcanic site, classified as cultural heritage of Humanity. The national park had just reopened to tourists after two years of closure. The mayor lamented having had only six firefighters at his disposal to fight the fire, insufficient to protect the Moai.