(Siem Reap): Specialists from the APSARA National Authority have begun restoring and strengthening the severely damaged brick towers Nos. 12, 13 and 14 outside the second enclosure wall at the northeastern corner of Bakong Temple. Of the three towers, Nos. 12 and 14 had collapsed down to their bases. Although No. 13 still retained its form from base to summit, its front wall also required urgent rescue repairs to help these temples, more than 1,000 years old, remain standing firmly.
សារាយ គឹមហួល, Head of the Roluos Conservation Team in the APSARA National Authority’s Department of Conservation of Monuments and Archaeology, said the specialists began the restoration of brick towers Nos. 12, 13 and 14 in May 2026 and planned to finish by the end of 2026. The towers had suffered damage over many decades from age, natural factors and a prolonged lack of maintenance. The southern tower, No. 12, and the northern tower, No. 14, had lost their form from summit to base. The central tower, No. 13, retained almost its entire form, but a large part of the front brickwork had fallen away, the doorway structure had collapsed and walls on all three sides were cracked.
គឹម ហួល added that the team had removed accumulated soil inside and outside all three towers and then begun consolidating the bases, doorframes and stair structures of each tower, strengthening weakened structural elements. The work also included applying lime mortar to protect against water seepage, insects, and grass or other plants growing on the temple surfaces. At the central tower, the team was also repairing the doorframe, pediment and decorative door columns that had collapsed and become scattered out of position, to return them to their original locations. After completing the repairs, the team would add iron bracing at the upper part of brick tower No. 13 to improve stability further.
Source: APSARA National Authority
By: ធី លីថូ
