Cultural and Historic Losses in the World: 2025 List 

This article compiles a list of fires and other causes of loss of historic or cultural buildings reported online. It underscores the persistent threats to cultural heritage and the various factors contributing to the serious and often underrecognised phenomenon of its destruction.

July, 9 – Arson in West Bank threatens Historic Village of Taybeh (Israel)

The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem condemned the attacks perpetrated by Israeli settlers on the Palestinian village of Taybeh, the sole entirely Christian village in the West Bank.The Patriarchs and Heads of Churches in Jerusalem condemned the attacks perpetrated by Israeli settlers on the Palestinian village of Taybeh, the sole entirely Christian village in the West Bank. The attacks, which occurred on July 7th, included arson near the cemetery and the historic Church of St George. The community and its two thousand years of heritage are threatened by these attacks.

July, 9 – Wildfire destroyed Historic lodge in Grande Canyon (USA)

A fire, which was sparked by lightning on July 4 burned for over a week along the Grand Canyon’s North Rim levelled a historic lodge. The fire destroyed the Grand Canyon Lodge, cabins, employee housing, and a wastewater treatment plant.

July, 8 – Gangs Reduce to Ashes Historic Hotel in Port-au Prince (Haiti)

Haiti’s iconic Hotel Oloffson, a 19th-century gingerbread mansion, has been reduced to rubble in the latest wave of gang violence plaguing Port-au-Prince. The Hotel, a haven for artists, writers, musicians, and foreign dignitaries, had endured dictatorships, coups, and natural disasters.

July, 8 – 17 Historic Sites Damaged in a Single Attack in Kharkiv (Ukraine)

The strike struck the historic district and a densely populated residential area. The epicentre of the strike resulted in the serious damage of four historic buildings. Cracks ran through the walls, floors, and some walls were warped. Two houses even caught fire. Five other buildings had their roofs destroyed, while most suffered broken windows and minor cracks in their decorations.

June, 23 – Fire Destroys city’s oldest Mill buildings in Manchester (UK)

On Monday 23 shortly after 4:30pm over 100 firefighters have been deployed to fight a blaze that led to the partial collapse of the Victorian structure of Historic Hotspur Press. Crews battled the inferno through humid and challenging conditions late into the night. The fire spread to adjacent buildings, forcing the evacuation of around 180 residents from nearby apartment blocks. While one building has since reopened, the other remains closed while safety assessments continue. The fire was so huge to disrupt public transport.

June, 23 – Kyiv Polytechnic’s Sports Center Destroyed by War Acts (Ukraine)

The State Emergency Service (SES) has been engaged in rescue operations at the scene of a Russian strike on Kyiv, which has resulted in the  complete destruction of the historic Igor Sikorsky building at the Kyiv Polytechnic Institute,  founded as the Kiev Polytechnic Institute of Emperor Alexander II on 31 August 1898. Preliminary reports indicate that there are no reported casualties. The impact of the strike has been recorded in five locations within the Solomyanskyi District. The Kyiv City Military Administration has reported damage to a business centre and an educational institution in the vicinity.

June, 17 – Fire Destroys Castle in Brabant (Belgium)

On the night of June 17, 2025, the Château de la Bacquelaine, an iconic historic monument in Walloon Brabant, was completely destroyed by a fire of exceptional severity. Despite the rapid and massive response of the firefighters, the widespread blaze made entry impossible, forcing rescuers to operate from the outside. The wooden floors and beams, characteristic of this type of old building, allowed the flames to spread rapidly. Both wings of the château, as well as the adjoining garages, were completely destroyed. By the next morning, there was a significant risk of collapse, and the damage was considerable. Beyond the material loss, the tragedy took on a human dimension with the discovery of the charred body of the owner, an 83-year-old Swiss businessman. The investigation favors the possibility of a deliberate act, an element that further complicates the analysis of causes and post-disaster management.

June, 15 – Fire in Historic Town of Villingen – (Germany)

In the picturesque town of Villingen-Schwenningen, situated in Baden-Württemberg, a devastating fire engulfed the historic district, causing severe damages. Six buildings were engulfed in flames, with two structures sustaining such extensive damage that they partially collapsed. Firefighters valiantly battled the inferno for several hours, and as the situation unfolds, the extent of the damage is becoming increasingly evident.

June, 10 – Fire near Temple in Seoul (South Korea)

A fire broke out in a building on the Jogye Temple grounds in Seoul, but was extinguished before reaching the temple or the Central Buddhist Museum. Nearly 300 people were evacuated, and the cause of the fire is under investigation.

June, 10 – War Crime to Historical Cathedral in Odessa (Ukraine)

During Russia’s war against Ukraine, on June 10, 2025, in Odessa, the Holy Wisdom Cathedral, also known as St. Sophia, was damaged by some of the drones that were launched against the Ukrainian city.
According to the Catholic Review website, “Ukrainian Culture Minister Mykola Tochytskyi said a blast damaged the cornice on the main apse of the cathedral, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, which serves as the mother church of all Christians who trace their roots to ancient Rus, Catholics and Orthodox.“

June, 7 – Earthquake Damages to Mount Athos Monasteries (Greece)

The magnitude 5.3 earthquake that struck the Mount Athos peninsula in Greece on June 7 caused structural damage to the ninth-century monasteries built in the area (UNESCO World Heritage Site). Although the damage was not severe, the quake will require repairs.

June, 7 – Laerdal Historic Town Damaged by a Fire (Norway)

A major fire has severely impacted Lærdal, a historic mountain village in Western Norway, renowned for its exceptionally preserved wooden architecture. Known for its 18th- and 19th-century Hanseatic-style buildings, Lærdal has long been recognized as a cultural treasure. The town’s urban layout—characterized by densely arranged wooden structures—reflects its historical role as a key inland port on the Sognefjord.

June, 1 – Breda Historic Building Damaged by a Fire (Netherlands)

In the early hours of June 1, 2025, a devastating fire destroyed the Landhuis Burgst, a historic 18th-century villa in Breda, the Netherlands. The fire broke out at around 2:30 a.m. on the ground floor of the building, while 18 people, including the owner, his family and migrant workers, were inside. Fortunately, everyone was able to evacuate safely, but the structure was completely destroyed.

April – Glen Rosa Island Fire (UK)

In early April 2025, the spectacular valley of Glen Rosa on the Isle of Arran, Scotland, was the scene of a devastating bushfire that destroyed a decade of conservation efforts, raising significant concerns about protecting natural heritage in areas prone to similar risks.

March, 6 – Arnhem Historic Centre Damaged by a Fire (Netherlands)

On Thursday, March 6, 2025, a town-scale evacuation was initiated at around 7:00 am in the city center of Arnhem (Netherlands) due to a fire that broke out at around 3:45 am in a shop on Jansstraat, which quickly spread to other historic shops and buildings.

March – Fire Damages to Uiseong 7th century temple (South Korea)

In March 2025, southeastern South Korea experienced a series of wildfires of unprecedented scale and destructiveness. Originating with over a dozen ignitions on March 22nd and 23rd, these fires rapidly expanded, ultimately becoming the largest and deadliest on record for the country.  One of the most significant losses was the ancient Gounsa Temple in Uiseong, dating back to 618 AD, which was razed, along with Unramsa Temple (the national treasures housed in the temple had been relocated earlier).  Other vital cultural assets, including the UNESCO World Heritage site Andong Hahoe Folk Village and the Byeongsanseowon Confucian Academy, were also at risk. The destruction of sites like Unramsa Temple highlights severe damage to Korean culture and underscores the need to understand the mechanisms of ignition and spread for future mitigation.

March, 28 – Temples destroyed by Earthquake in Bagan (Myanmar)

On March 28, 2025, a powerful earthquake (7.7 M) struck the city again, but even after several days, it is unclear how extensive the damage to historical heritage in Myanmar was. The event, which killed dozens of people, had its epicenter in the Mandalay region of Myanmar. According this AP post, dated April 10, 2025: “The earthquake destroyed 48,834 houses, 3,094 Buddhist monasteries and nunneries, 2,045 schools, 2,171 departmental offices and buildings, 148 bridges and 5,275 pagodas, the state-run Global New Light of Myanmar newspaper reported, citing Vice Senior Gen. Soe Win, the vice chairman of the ruling military council.” In the former capital Inwa (previously Ava), according Wikipedia ” 75% of the historical structures in the former royal capital were damaged, including pagodas and temples“.

January – Severe Wildfires damages to Historic Buildings in Los Angeles (USA)

On January 7, 2025, devastating fires started in Los Angeles county, with the Eaton Fire killing five people and causing extensive damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure. Officials estimated that nearly 180,000 residents were evacuated due to the fires in Los Angeles County. Firefighters faced a shortage of personnel and resources, with approximately 2,500 firefighters battling the Eaton and Palisades fires. The situation was exacerbated by a lack of water at some higher elevation fire hydrants in Pacific Palisades. In this context, historical and heritage sites have suffered severe damages.