The National Council for the Protection of La Antigua Guatemala (CNPAG) requested the support of the population to identify the person responsible for the damage caused to the perimeter wall of the Ermita de la Santa Cruz, after, allegedly, a vehicle collided with the structure during the morning of this Monday, July 6.
The institution asked anyone who has information about the incident or the vehicle involved to call 7873-4646, extensions 104 or 132. The CNPAG assured that all information will be treated confidentially.
Elisa Ramírez, architect of the CNPAG Restoration Department, explained that the damage was discovered during the morning, after a routine inspection of the property.
“Our guard left at approximately 7:30 a.m. and the perimeter wall was in good condition. A short time later, people who work in the sector passed by and also observed it without damage. That is why we assume that the accident occurred between approximately 8:30 and 9:30 a.m.,” he indicated.
Ramírez explained that, so far, the institution does not have evidence that would identify the person responsible, since there are no municipal video surveillance cameras in the area and the verifications carried out in the surrounding area did not allow records from the moment of impact to be located.
“We assume it was some vehicle, possibly a truck, that crashed into the wall, but we do not have any data that would allow it to be identified,” he added.
The architect clarified that the affected wall is not part of a historical structure, but rather corresponds to a contemporary construction made with pumice block and concrete reinforcement.
“As seen in the photographs, the wall was built with modern materials and does not have ancient features,” he explained.
Despite this, he pointed out that the repair will represent an expense for the institution, both for the materials and the labor necessary to rebuild the affected section.
Ramírez indicated that, because the person responsible has not been identified, the CNPAG will carry out the repairs with its own personnel and resources.
“We will proceed to make the arrangement with our staff and with the resources of the institution,” he stated.
Regarding the intervention, he explained that, as it is a modern structure, the work does not require specialized heritage restoration techniques and can be carried out by a bricklayer.
However, he stressed that the situation would have been much more delicate if the impact had affected a historic structure.
“Thank God it was damage to a contemporary structure and not to an ancient structure. If it had been historical heritage, the intervention would have required specialized personnel and the situation would be much more complex,” he said.
The architect called on citizens to drive carefully and assume responsibility when an accident occurs.
“The most important thing is to assume responsibility for the damage that each person causes. In addition, it is necessary to drive with care to protect the heritage of Antigua Guatemala,” he said.
According to Ramírez, due to the magnitude of the damage visible on the wall, it is likely that the vehicle involved was traveling at a considerable speed.
“We assume that it had to have been a strong impact and that the vehicle was going at a fairly high speed to cause that damage,” he concluded.
*Stay up to date with the Now newsletter. Key information at the moment it happens. Subscribe here.