SEOUL, March 26 (Bernama-Yonhap) -- National treasures and cultural artefacts have been relocated to safer locations as wildfires continue to ravage South Korea’s southeastern regions, Yonhap News Agency reported.
The Korea Heritage Service said that as of 9 am on Wednesday, it had moved 15 historic pieces, including wooden printing blocks and Buddha paintings, from major temples such as Bongjeong Temple in Andong and Buseok Temple in Yeongju, both located in North Gyeongsang Province.
These temples are among seven Buddhist monasteries designated as UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Sites under the “Sansa, Buddhist Mountain Monasteries in Korea” classification.
The 15 relocated pieces include 10 national treasures, notably a seated stone Buddha statue from the now-destroyed Goun Temple in Uiseong, along with five additional tangible cultural heritage items.
The state agency has identified eight cases of fire damage so far but said a more detailed assessment will follow.
Regarding the two treasures — Yeongsu Hall and Gaunru Pavilion at Goun Temple — the agency confirmed that they were completely burned down following an on-site inspection earlier in the day. Of the 30 buildings at the ancient temple, only nine escaped the flames.
According to the Korea Heritage Service, 15 pieces of national heritage had been damaged in the fires as of 5 pm on Wednesday — 11 designated as national heritage and four as municipal or provincial heritage.
These pieces were concentrated in Uiseong, Andong, and Cheongsong in the northern part of North Gyeongsang Province — the areas hit hardest by the fires.
The heritage agency has covered several pieces of heritage in fire-retardant tarpaulins, including Geungnakjeon inside Bongjeong Temple, believed to be the oldest wooden building in South Korea.
Authorities are on high alert for potential damage to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites — Hahoe Village and Byeongsan Seowon — both located in Andong, as wildfires are approaching the areas.
At least 18 people have been killed by a series of wildfires, with firefighters still working to contain the rapidly spreading blazes.
-- BERNAMA-YONHAP
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