Quakes could destroy Japan's history

TOKYO, Feb. 20 (UPI) -- The Kiyomizu Temple, perched on a hillside above Kyoto, and many other historic buildings in Japan are vulnerable to earthquakes, the government says.

In a report to the Central Disaster Prevention Council, the Cabinet Office said that 113 designated national treasures are at risk, Kyodo News Service said. A total of 580 buildings classified as being important cultural properties are on or near major fault lines and likely to be damaged if a major quake hits.

The Todaiji Temple in Nara, the old capital of Japan, is also on the list. Many of the at risk buildings are in or near Kyoto.

The Kiyomizu Temple is a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site and is famous for its large veranda and the waterfall inside the complex. There has been a temple on the site for more than 1,000 years, although the present building dates from the 17th century.