(Phnom Penh): Experts from the APSARA National Authority are restoring and reinforcing Brick Towers No. 12, No. 13, and No. 14, located outside the second enclosure at the northeast corner of Bakong Temple.
These more than 1,000-year-old brick towers have suffered severe deterioration over decades. Towers No. 12 and No. 14 have collapsed, causing damage to their platforms, while Tower No. 13, although still standing, requires urgent intervention due to the collapse of its front wall and structural instability.
Saray Kimhual, Head of the Restoration Team of the Department of Conservation of Monuments and Preventive Archaeology, said the restoration project began in May 2026 and is expected to be completed by the end of the year.
He explained that the damage resulted from centuries of aging, natural weathering, and prolonged lack of maintenance. The southern tower (No. 12) and northern tower (No. 14) have lost much of their original form, with extensive damage from the upper sections down to the pediments.
Meanwhile, the central tower (No. 13) remains largely intact but has suffered the collapse of much of its front façade, damage to its doorway, and significant cracks in three of its walls.
To stabilize the structures, the restoration team has cleaned both the interiors and exteriors of the three towers before beginning work on the platforms, door frames, and staircases.
Damaged structural elements are being carefully repaired and reinforced. Mortar is being applied to seal joints, prevent water infiltration, protect against insects, and discourage the growth of weeds and other vegetation on the brick surfaces.
For Tower No. 13, conservators are also reassembling and reinstalling displaced architectural elements, including the door frame, platform components, and pillars, returning them to their original positions.
Once the restoration is complete, additional reinforcement will be installed at the top of the tower to further improve its structural stability and ensure its long-term preservation.
=FRESH NEWS
