Two Chinese workers were arrested for causing irreparable harm to a segment of the Great Wall by using heavy machinery to form a shortcut.
The iconic Great Wall of China, one of the select few human-made wonders discernible from outer space, has its roots tracing back to the third century BC.
Substantial portions of this majestic structure stand tall today, under heritage protection, but this did not deter two workers from bulldozing a segment which obstructed their path.
The culprits, a man of 38 and a woman of 55, were working proximate to the impacted section. Because of being exasperated by the continuous detour around the wall to reach their desired location, the two chose to widen an existing breach, allowing their excavator to pass through directly.
Following reports of the damage, authorities from Shanxi province traced the excavator’s tracks, leading them straight to the duo who subsequently confessed to altering the historic barrier to accommodate their machinery. Regrettably, the destruction inflicted is termed ‘irreversible’.
Though this particular segment of the Great Wall is distant from the frequently photographed and frequented sections, it remains an integral part of the Unesco World Heritage. The aftermath of the deed? A makeshift dirt road cutting across it.
“Currently, the two suspects have been criminally detained in accordance with the law, and the case is continuing to be investigated.”, Chinese national broadcaster, CCTV, disclosed.
It remains a poignant reflection of our times that a monument which stood resilient through millennia and was pivotal in shaping several Chinese epochs, fell victim to the impatience of two workers.
