Cambodia’s Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts reported on January 12, 2026, that 142 locations in the structures of Preah Vihear Temple and 42 locations in the surrounding area had been damaged. It attributed the damage to aerial bombing by Thai military drones and fighter aircraft during July 24–28 and December 7–27, 2025.
According to the ministry, the damage documented for July 24–28, 2025, included 142 locations in the temple structures and 42 in the surrounding area, including Wat Keo Sikha Kiri Svara, public infrastructure and the conservation office buildings of the National Authority for Preah Vihear. Surrounding communities suffered damage at 60 locations, including homes, schools, pagodas and other public infrastructure, forcing 14,832 people to evacuate their homes. The National Authority for Preah Vihear formally documented this damage in October 2025.
The documentation for December 7–27, 2025, showed more severe damage than had been recorded in July 2025. According to photographic and video evidence collected by the National Authority for Preah Vihear during a documentation mission on December 28, 2025, almost all the temple’s major architectural structures, from Gopura I to Gopura V, including all connecting causeways and the ancient northern staircase, were severely affected. The Culture Ministry’s press release attributed this damage to repeated heavy shelling and aerial bombing by drones and fighter aircraft directly targeting the Preah Vihear World Heritage site.
Heng Ratana, director-general of the Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC), said: “Preah Vihear Temple is a heritage belonging to humanity worldwide and a sacred place. It has been bombed and shelled, demolished and devastated with extreme cruelty and barbarity as a result of Siam’s reckless aggression against Cambodia’s territorial integrity. Those responsible for the destruction must be held accountable!”
The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts sent this assessment report to UNESCO, the World Heritage Committee, ICC-Preah Vihear member states and the international community for their information. It called on international organisations and the international community to support urgent measures to protect the temple from further attacks, emergency conservation to prevent further damage, and the temple’s repair and restoration.
By: Nget Pisant
