A French tourist was slightly injured at Angkor Wat on Sunday after the pillar of a window estimated to be nearly 1,000 years old fell on her right leg, according to tourist guides and the Apsara Authority.
The incident was the primary impetus for a meeting regarding damage prevention efforts scheduled for today between security guards at the Angkorian temples in Siem Reap and the Apsara Authority, which manages the ancient ruins.
“I saw her walk on the second floor of Angkor Wat temple at the north side with her husband, and then one of the window pillars fell down on her right leg,” said guide Pot Vanny, who did not know the victim’s name.
The Apsara Authority confirmed the injury and the broken piece of the temple, but described what happened as an accident.
“It happened coincidentally when she was walking near the window pillars and one of them fell down because it was very, very old,” said authority spokeswoman Chau Sun Kerya yesterday. “It was more than 900 years old.”
“Now we are studying to repair it,” she said.
