Representatives of the agency’s office in Chile visited the site and inspected 80 moais, the huge humanoid figures carved in stone that were damaged by fire earlier this month, some of them are beyond repair.
After the visit they assured that they are managing a fund of 100 million dollars, with the purpose of examining in detail the consequences of the forest fire at Rano Raraku volcano, where the quarries used by ancestral communities to make the pieces are located.
Also known as Easter Island, Rapa Nui was declared World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1995 due to its geographical beauty and as a sample representative of the creative genius of humanity.
The moais are stone blocks carved several centuries ago with the figure of a head and torso with an average height of four meters and weighing around 14 tons each.
Their elaboration and distribution in various parts of the island was undoubtedly a colossal effort for their creators, although there is practically no written or oral documentation on what exactly they represent and the motivations for their elaboration.
Around 900 sculptures are scattered throughout the island, and 80 of them were affected by the fire and many others suffer the serious effects of erosion.
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