SIEM REAP: The Risk Prevention Team of the APSARA Authority has taken wooden scaffolding to immediately support the first ceiling of the southern part of Angkor Wat after some parts of it were affected by heavy rainfall.

The APSARA Authority announced on Monday afternoon, 17 October, that due to a number of natural factors such as rain, wind, heat, plantation growth and age, some parts of the Angkor Wat temple structure are at risk of damage. The first ceiling of the southern part of Angkor Wat, which is 100 meters long, five meters wide, and seven meters high, has now been temporarily blocked off by the Risk Prevention Team.

The Deputy Director of the Department of Water Management, Forestry and Infrastructure of the APSARA Authority, Sok Soseila, has said that the main aggravating factor causing weakness of the Angkor Wat structure is the heavy rainfall over the past few weeks.

"In the last 2-3 weeks, it has been raining heavily and water is pouring into all parts of the first ceiling in the southern part of Angkor Wat, affecting the foundation, causing parts of the ceiling to move, the walls to lift and the beams begin to separate," he said.

"Due to this problem, the Risk Prevention Team has taken some wooden scaffolding to immediately provide temporary relief [to the structure] while awaiting the recommendation of the ICC Angkor Committee on what to do next."

In the past, the Risk Prevention Team of the APSARA Authority’s Department of Water Management, Forestry and Infrastructure has extensively studied a risk map to determine the temple locations that require intervention, to prevent any problems from occurring.

The APSARA Authority added that its Risk Prevention Team is planning to work on strengthening the beams, pillars, and roofs of 38 more temples in the Angkor Wat complex.