Damaged portion of the Great Wall of China.Photo:Youyu County Public Security Bureau
Youyu County Public Security Bureau
Two people have been detained after a hole was created in the Great Wall of China, according to authorities.
Police have accused a 38-year-old man and 55-year-old woman of attempting to create the hole while doing construction in the area, according tothe BBCandNPR, which cited a press release from the Youyu County Public Security Bureau.
The hole was reported to authorities on Aug. 24, according to China Daily andNBC News.
Police claim the workers caused “irreversible damage” to the Wall while attempting to reduce their travel time, according to the BBC.
The workers have been charged with damaging the relic, perChina Daily. An investigation into the incident is ongoing.
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Damage to the Great Wall of China.Youyu County Public Security Bureau
The Great Wall of China became aUNESCO World Heritage sitein 1987, according to the World Heritage Convention’s website. Construction began in 220 B.C. and continued through the Ming Dynasty, which maintained power from the 14th to 17th centuries.
Multiple people have faced consequences in recent years for illegally tampering with the wall in various ways.
Most recently, a tourist was fined after using a hairpin to carve into the wall in August, NBC News reported.
source: people.com
