Two earthquakes this week damaged an 800-year-old minaret in Afghanistan, which is considered one of the best examples of Islamic architecture, and it is now in danger of collapsing, according to an official.

Even before Monday’s quakes, the Minaret of Jam, a UNESCO world heritage site in the central province of Ghor, was in desperate need of repair, but provincial official Abdul Hai Zaeem told AFP that the 65-meter (213-foot) structure had weakened even more.

Zaeem, the head of Ghor’s information and culture department, said late Wednesday that “some of the bricks have come off and the minaret itself has tilted more.”

“It’s possible that the minaret will collapse if proper care is not given.”

At least 22 people were killed and hundreds of homes were destroyed in western Badghis province on Monday, with tremors felt across the country.

“Despite the fact that an earthquake occurred just a few days ago… there is currently no evidence to support the theory that the minaret has become fragile,” UNESCO said in a statement to AFP.

“We have, however, asked our contacts in the province of Ghor to double-check this.”

The Minaret of Jam, built in the 12th century during Sultan Ghiyasuddin’s reign, has survived earthquakes, floods, and harsh desert storms — and the years have taken their toll.

The minaret and its archaeological remains were added to UNESCO’s World Heritage List in 2002, making it the first site in Afghanistan to do so.

It is built on an octagonal base and has an elaborately decorated interior with a double staircase. It was built around 1190, according to the information available.

Even in the 1960s, when Afghanistan was a magnet for hardy Western travellers, it was located in a rugged, inaccessible valley along the Harirud river, well off the tourist trail.

The minaret had previously been attempted to be repaired by archaeologists backed by UNESCO, but due to its remote location — in the heart of territory controlled by the Taliban even before they took power in August — security was always an issue.

The site was last visited by UNESCO in 2019, and they stated that it was not in danger of collapsing at the time.

Audrey Azoulay, the head of the agency, called on the Taliban last year to assist in the preservation of Afghanistan’s cultural heritage, including the minaret.

The Taliban destroyed two massive centuries-old Buddha statues carved out of a cliff face in Bamiyan shortly before their first term in power ended in 2001, causing international outrage.

This time, they’ve promised a kinder version of rule, and Taliban fighters are now guarding what’s left of the statues.

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