Emergency repairs planned for Preah Vihear as experts review Koh Ker conservation

PHNOM PENH, March 21, 2026 (KPT) – International experts have urged emergency measures to stabilise Cambodia’s Preah Vihear Temple after damage from armed clashes last year, officials said Saturday.

The International Coordinating Committee for the Safeguarding and Development of Preah Vihear (ICC–Preah Vihear) held its 11th plenary session on March 19 in Phnom Penh, chaired by Culture Minister Phoeurng Sackona and co-chaired by China and India.

Delegates reviewed urgent repair needs at Preah Vihear and ongoing conservation work at the Koh Ker temple complex.

Field missions on March 16–17 assessed both sites, recommending structural stabilisation at Prasat Khna, improved parking at Prasat Pram, and detailed documentation across Koh Ker’s monuments.

At Preah Vihear, experts identified high-risk sections damaged by shelling, including the stretch from Peuy Ta Di to the Naga Bridge near the fifth gateway. Damage to the ticket office at the mountain’s base was also noted.

The co-chairs and member states reaffirmed support for Cambodia’s efforts to safeguard Preah Vihear, a UNESCO World Heritage site, and pledged continued conservation through the ICC framework once conditions allow.