"More than 730 historical monuments" damaged in recent floods in Iran
The Cultural Heritage Organization of Iran says that floods at the beginning of this solar year in the country have damaged more than 730 historical and ancient monuments in 25 provinces.
Mohammad Hassan Talebian, Deputy Minister of Cultural Heritage, told ILNA News Agency that his organization has "separately" examined "all the damage caused to cultural heritage due to the floods" in different provinces.
Mr. Talebian has announced the final amount of damages at around 380 billion Tomans.
The cultural heritage official stressed that to prevent the damage from worsening, their restoration and reconstruction "must begin as soon as possible."
Mohammad Hassan Talebian says that the most problems exist in the area of watersheds, and the restoration of these areas is beyond the ability of cultural heritage alone.
The Deputy Minister of Cultural Heritage says that Italian restorers are currently in Persepolis and a UNESCO expert has also gone to Shushtar, although this trip was planned in advance.
One of the historical monuments about which concerns have been expressed is Falak-ol-Aflak Castle, and Talebian says that the landslide of the man-made hill on which Falak-ol-Aflak Castle is built has raised concerns.
Falak-ol-Aflak Castle or Shapurkhast Fortress in Lorestan Province is a historical monument whose construction dates back to the Sassanid period.
Source: Radio Farda
