Egypt seeks detailed report on artifacts at Brazil’s burnt museum

Egypt yesterday asked for a detailed report on the status of Egyptian artifacts at the National Museum of Brazil which was destroyed in a fire on Sunday.

A statement issued by the Egyptian Ministry of Antiquities said yesterday: “The ministry has asked the Egyptian Foreign Ministry to request a detailed and urgent report on the status of the Egyptian antiquities stored in the museum.”

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Secretary-General of the Supreme Council of Antiquities, Mostafa Waziri, said the fire was a great loss to mankind, to history and heritage.

Waziri stressed on the Ministry of Antiquities’ readiness to cooperate with Brazil, to provide archaeological and technical assistance as well as the necessary expertise for the restoration of archaeological artifacts in the museum.

The statement did not specify the number of Egyptian artifacts in the National Museum of Brazil.

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On Sunday, a huge fire broke out at the National Museum of Brazil, the country’s largest and oldest scientific institution in Rio de Janeiro. Local media said the fire is likely to have destroyed all the 20 million artifacts stored at the museum.