Phnom penh: The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts has submitted assessment reports on the state of damage of the Sacred Site of the Temple of Preah Vihear to UNESCO, the World Heritage Committee, the ICC-Preah Vihear Member States, and the international community for their information.
According to Agence Kampuchea Presse, the Ministry detailed the damage sustained by the Sacred Site of the Temple of Preah Vihear and its surrounding areas as a result of artillery attacks carried out by the Thai military during the periods of July 24-28, 2025, and December 7-27, 2025.
The damage recorded from July 24 to 28, 2025, consists of 142 locations within the Preah Vihear Temple complex and 42 locations in the surrounding areas, including Keo Sikha Kiri Svara Pagoda, public infrastructure, and the conservation office buildings of the National Authority for Preah Vihear. Surrounding communities also suffered damage at 60 locations, including residential houses, schools, pagodas, and other public infrastructure, resulting in the forced displacement of 14,832 residents from their homes. These damages were officially documented by the National Authority for Preah Vihear in October 2025.
The damage recorded from December 7 to 27, 2025, exceeds that recorded in July 2025. According to photographic and video evidence collected by the National Authority for Preah Vihear during a documentation mission conducted on December 28, 2025, almost all major architectural structures of the temple, from Gopura I to Gopura V, including all connecting causeways and the ancient northern staircase, suffered severe damage. This damage resulted from repeated heavy artillery shelling and aerial bombardment carried out by unmanned aerial vehicles and fighter aircraft, directly targeting the Preah Vihear World Heritage site.
Routine conservation and restoration activities were disrupted, and infrastructure supporting conservation and restoration work under international cooperation projects was also completely damaged. The Northern Ancient Staircase Conservation and Restoration Project, involving Cambodia-United States Cooperation, saw both original and restored sections severely damaged, with facilities and equipment destroyed. The Gopura V Conservation and Restoration Project with Cambodia-India Cooperation faced extensive structural damage, and the Architectural Structures of Gopura I, II, and III with Cambodia-China Cooperation suffered extreme damage, necessitating new studies and restoration plans.
Overall, the Thai military's attacks on the Sacred Temple of Preah Vihear caused extensive destruction to original architectural structures, restored components, inscriptions, conservation buildings, and technical equipment, significantly hindering conservation efforts.
The Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts released the Damage Assessment Reports and video documentation related to both incidents, prepared by the National Authority for Preah Vihear, alongside the Summary Report on Unexploded Ordnance Clearance and Verification by the Cambodian Mine Action Centre. The Ministry calls upon international organisations and the international community to support urgent measures to protect the temple from further attacks and to support emergency conservation and restoration works.
The Ministry reiterated its call for respect for international law, including the 1954 Hague Convention for the Protection of Cultural Property in the Event of Armed Conflict and its Second Protocol of 1999, as well as international humanitarian law, all of which obligate States Parties to respect and protect cultural heritage of outstanding universal value. The Ministry underlined its commitment to conducting research, compiling documentation, and coordinating with national and international institutions for the justice, protection, and restoration of Cambodia's Sacred Temple of Preah Vihear.