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| The section of the citadel wall collapsed due to the impacts of heavy rain and storms |
According to the information released by Hue City Department of Culture and Sports on November 6, this was one of the contents mentioned in the official dispatch that the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism sent to Hue City People’s Committee in responding, and recovering the impacts on the heritage and museums in Hue City caused by natural disasters.
Previously, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism received an urgent report from Hue City Department of Culture and Sports, along with an official dispatch from Hue Monuments of Conservation Center regarding the work of flood and storm prevention and the collapse of a section of Hue Imperial Citadel’s wall, part of the World Cultural Heritage Site - the Complex of Hue Monuments.
The section of the collapsed wall is 15m long. It is located on the Northern side of Hue Imperial Citadel, adjacent to the park along Dang Thai Than street (Phu Xuan Ward). The incident occurred at about 18:45 on November 2, after several days of heavy rain and flooding in Hue. Immediately afterward, Hue Monuments of Conservation Center carried out safety measures and set up warning signs for residents, tourists, and officers working in the area. The Center also invited the representative of Hue City Department of Construction to come to the site for initial inspection and assessment.
In response to this situation, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism has assigned Hue City People’s Committee to direct relevant agencies to inspect and review the current situation of the collapsed wall section. Furthermore, they also have to examine the technical condition of the heritage sites, components, walls, roofs, foundations, and infrastructure of Hue Complex of Monuments - the World Cultural Heritage Site, as well as that of other relics in the city area. The aim is to assess the extent of damage to support restoration and repair efforts.
Moreover, it is necessary to promptly protect the site and prevent further collapse and blowing off of the works at the heritage. It aims to ensure safety for the relic in particular and locals living around the relic in general. At the same time, authorities should conduct an intervention and review the preservation status of artifacts and antiquities within affected sites or those at risk of being damaged due to flooding, moisture, or mold to develop preservation measures and avoid irreparable losses.
On this occasion, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism highly appreciated the sense of responsibility and proactive efforts of Hue City Department of Culture and Sports, Hue Monuments of Conservation Center, together with other museums and heritage management committees in the area in the work of natural disaster prevention, response, and post-flood recovery. Their efforts have helped to minimize the damage to the city’s cultural heritage sites.
In the long run, the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism also requests Hue City People’s Committee to direct Hue City Department of Culture and Sports to collaborate with relevant local agencies in developing a plan for controlling disaster risks. This is to enhance the preparedness in identifying, preventing, responding, mitigating, and post-disaster restoring for the heritage sites in the city area.