AKP Phnom Penh, March 23, 2026 --

The Royal Government of Cambodia on Monday detailed the extensive damage inflicted on the Preah Vihear Temple by Thai military attacks, presenting a preliminary assessment that identified 562 distinct points of damage at the UNESCO World Heritage site.

Speaking at a press conference at the Office of the Council of Ministers, Royal Government Spokesman H.E. Pen Bona outlined findings from the 11th plenary session of the International Coordinating Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of the Preah Vihear Temple (ICC-Preah Vihear), held in Siem Reap on Mar. 19.

The meeting, chaired by Minister of Culture and Fine Arts H.E. Dr. Phoeurng Sackona, who leads the Cambodian Royal Government delegation, included representatives from China and India as co-chairs. Participants also included delegates from five member states – Belgium, France, Japan, Thailand, and the United States – along with approximately 158 experts from national and international institutions, ad-hoc experts, and researchers attending both in person and online.

According to the preliminary assessment presented to the ICC, the damage to the temple complex totals 562 points. 

The destruction has severely compromised the structural integrity of the temple, damaged carvings, and impacted its Outstanding Universal Value.

The ICC session reviewed reports on the destruction caused by two separate incidents in 2025, which also impacted local communities and tourism. 

The National Authority for Preah Vihear presented initial risk assessment findings and an emergency conservation plan aimed at preventing further damage to scattered artifacts and severely affected temple infrastructure.

The briefing follows a two-day expert mission from Mar. 16-17 during which ad-hoc experts from the ICC-Preah Vihear committee inspected the damage and assessed the impact on tourism and local communities. Their findings and recommendations were presented at the Mar. 19 plenary.

Prior to the ICC session, Cambodia invited a joint technical advisory mission from UNESCO and International Council on Monuments and Sites (ICOMOS) during the first week of March, in line with the Operational Guidelines for the Implementation of the World Heritage Convention. The mission assessed the conservation status of the World Heritage property and provided technical recommendations to support long-term preservation efforts. The mission’s report will be submitted to Cambodian authorities following standard practice.

During the ICC meeting, the co-chairs from China and India, along with other member states and international experts, reaffirmed their commitment to working with the Royal Government of Cambodia to protect and preserve the Preah Vihear Temple for future generations. The co-chairs expressed their intention to continue conservation efforts through the ICC advisory forum once conditions normalise.

Immediate measures discussed for the temple’s emergency conservation include clearing unexploded ordnance to ensure safety for conservation work and site management, preparing a risk analysis document for the temple and its surrounding mountain area, and documenting affected artifacts and structures to implement urgent rescue measures.

On Jan. 12, 2026, the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts issued a statement detailing severe damage to the Preah Vihear Temple complex from bomb and artillery strikes by Thai forces, including destruction to temple structures and surrounding areas such as Keo Sikha Kiri Svara pagoda. The Ministry called on international organisations and the global community to support urgent measures to prevent further attacks and to assist in ongoing conservation, restoration, and repair efforts. It also urged adherence to international law, conventions, protocols, and international humanitarian law obligating all parties to respect and protect cultural heritage of Outstanding Universal Value.

By K. Rithy Reak