Tikal Temple Damaged by Lightning
Edgar Chan, manager of Tikal, assesses damage caused by lightning in the Temple II
BY WRITING
PETEN, GUATEMALA - Lightning struck the Temple II at Tikal, causing some damage to its crest, said the manager of that national park, Edgar Aguilar Chan, who has evaluated the damage to begin restoration as soon as possible.
He reported that last Sunday there was a strong storm in the region of Tikal and lightning crashed into the stonework of the temple. He added that the restorers started with a thorough evaluation to establish the seriousness of the damage, because you have to repair before the restarting the rains which are forecast to be heavy for the coming months.
The Temple III or the High Priest was also damaged on the crest of a beam, and deterioration threatened the whole top, because the previous administration never bothered to restore the pre-Hispanic structures, Chan said.
Microflora advances
He referred to the work to improve the conditions of the temples of Tikal and emphasized the problem of the microflora, a small herb that grows in the walls of these structures and cause severe damage due to the fragility of the limestone.
They are currently working on the Temple II to remove all the little vegetation that extends along the walls, a must that had not been done in the past four years. Furthermore, the staircase was removed allowing the tourists climb to the chambers of the pyramid, as it gave an unsightly appearance to the main Plaza. Another staircase was constructed in the rear, so that there is always visitor access to the chambers above.
The Temple II was built 700 years after Christ, in honor of the king's wife Chan Jasaw Kawil.
Courtesy Prensa Libre
