Koh Ker TempleAssociated Press
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia -- Three Cambodian temples built more than a 1,000 years ago were damaged when dozens of trees collapsed on them during a heavy rain storm this week, an official said Thursday.
Heavy rains and gusting winds on Tuesday dislodged several trees, which fell on the roofs of three stone temples in the Koh Ker complex, said Seung Kong, deputy director-general of Apsara Authority, a government body managing temples built during the Angkor era.
The 10th century Koh Ker temples -- opened to the public two years ago -- are about 130 kilometers (85 miles) northeast of Siem Reap province, home of the famed Angkor Wat complex and Cambodia's main tourist destination.
Seung Kong said the damage to the three temples was not serious as the trees did not hit their main structures.
"The damage was regretful, but compared with the damage done by humans during the war, it was much smaller," he said, adding that the fallen trees were so old and decayed that they could not withstand the storm.
The temples were damaged and looted during a series of civil wars in the 1970s and 1980s.
Seung Kong said other old trees still standing near the temples will be cut down to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Heavy rains and gusting winds on Tuesday dislodged several trees, which fell on the roofs of three stone temples in the Koh Ker complex, said Seung Kong, deputy director-general of Apsara Authority, a government body managing temples built during the Angkor era.
The 10th century Koh Ker temples -- opened to the public two years ago -- are about 130 kilometers (85 miles) northeast of Siem Reap province, home of the famed Angkor Wat complex and Cambodia's main tourist destination.
Seung Kong said the damage to the three temples was not serious as the trees did not hit their main structures.
"The damage was regretful, but compared with the damage done by humans during the war, it was much smaller," he said, adding that the fallen trees were so old and decayed that they could not withstand the storm.
The temples were damaged and looted during a series of civil wars in the 1970s and 1980s.
Seung Kong said other old trees still standing near the temples will be cut down to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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