A-Ma Temple | Gov’t calls on heritage staff to prioritize electrical safety

The inside of the temple sustained extensive damage

The government has announced plans to conserve and restore parts of the A-Ma Temple pavilion and relics that were damaged in a accidental fire that occurred last week during the Chinese New Year celebrations.
In a statement, the government said that it is highly concerned about the incident – believed to have been caused by an electrical fault – and that the government calls on all owners, managers and staff members at Macau’s heritage sites to ensure close attention is paid to fire and electrical safety.
The statement also indicated that the government would offer its complete support to the temple’s management during the restoration process by providing a thorough fire safety inspection of the site, assisting with the safeguarding of its architectural structure and offering consultative advice for the works.
Last week a government inspection of the damaged site, undertaken by the Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC), revealed that the initial restoration work might take two to three months. However, it was estimated that it could be at least one year before the structure is fully repaired and the interior restored.
Other experts and engineers, such as those from the Macau Institution of Electrical and Mechanical Engineers (AEEMM), conducted further damage assessments at the A-Ma Temple, uncovering faults in the site’s electrical system that may have been responsible for the out-
break of the fire.
A lead engineer in the inspection told TDM that, worryingly, basic safety standards were being overlooked.
“The size and use of some metal wires was not thought through. Calculation of circuits was not even made. The possibility of a faulty situation was not considered,” said Lei Chi Chio, a member of AEEMM. “[Temple management] should take Beijing’s palace museum as a reference and have regular maintenance inspections conducted every five years.”
The fire, which broke out at the World Heritage Site in the early hours of Wednesday morning, resulted in severe damage to some of the pavilion’s interior, including an altar, some wall plaques, and wooden furniture.
According to the IC, the statue of the Goddess A-Ma – regarded as the item of the greatest historical value in the damaged pavilion – suffered no major damage. Additionally, the damaged portions of the pavilion including the main beams, walls and roof can all be comfortably repaired. Staff reporter