Cambodia Details Preah Vihear Temple Damage from 2025 Thai Shelling

The Cambodian Mine Action Centre (CMAC) has revealed that during the conflict between Cambodia and Thailand in 2025, Thai forces fired 1,599 heavy artillery shells in and around the Preah Vihear Temple area, equivalent to 501 firing directions. Of these, 977 were unexploded ordnance, and four drones were also used. These figures were presented by Mr. Heng Ratana, Director-General of CMAC, on September 11, 2026. He stated that following the invasions, CMAC experts have identified 16,000 explosion craters along the Cambodia-Thailand border, impacting an area of 3,000 square kilometers. In the last six months alone, CMAC has cleared approximately 10,000 landmines and unexploded ordnance, covering an area of over 100 square kilometers. Furthermore, Mr. Heng Ratana noted that the cluster bombs used by the Thai military, types M42, M46, and M85, are Israeli-made and are prohibited under the Oslo International Convention on Cluster Munitions. During the 2025 war, Thai soldiers reportedly used approximately 12,000 to 13,000 rounds of 155mm artillery shells containing cluster munitions, releasing an estimated 6 to 7 million submunitions. This impacted 335 villages in 60 communes along the Cambodia-Thailand border, affecting over 290,000 hectares. Fourteen villages and areas along the border remain unstudied due to security concerns. Mr. Heng Ratana emphasized that the Thai military's use of cluster bombs was based on clear military strategy and tactics, aiming to cause long-term socio-economic devastation to the Cambodian people and the country. Separately, Mr. Kong Puthikar, Director-General of the Authority for the Protection and Sustainable Development of Preah Vihear, Siem Reap-Oddar Meanchey National Authority, stated that the damage to Preah Vihear Temple caused by the heavy artillery shelling from the Thai military during the two invasions in 2025 constitutes a destruction of world heritage, a valuable global heritage asset of Cambodia. He confirmed that the temple suffered damage in 562 locations, equivalent to approximately 70,000 stone fragments, due to heavy artillery fire and aerial bombs from the Thai military. The damage affected architectural structures, gates, carvings, stone pillars, walls, sacred sites, and tourism infrastructure. Some conservation work that was nearing completion was not only reverted to its pre-restoration state but parts were more severely damaged than from natural factors. Mr. Kong Puthikar affirmed that most of the shelling directly hit heritage sections, with some areas sustaining repeated damage during the fighting in July and December.