The Department of National Archives has issued an urgent appeal for freezer facilities to preserve thousands of water-damaged public records following recent flooding across the country.
In a public notice, the institution warned that hundreds of cubic metres of priceless documents—including court records, deeds, land registries, financial files and personnel records—are at risk of being permanently destroyed due to mould if immediate freezing is not carried out.
The Archives says freezing is a crucial emergency step to stop further deterioration until proper conservation treatment is possible. Without this intervention, the department warns, the country could lose vital documents that affect legal ownership, citizenship, pensions, audits, and historical evidence.
The institution is requesting temporary freezer space from private organizations, businesses, and individuals who may be able to provide facilities without cost. The documents need to be frozen in large quantities, and the Archives is also appealing for mobile freezer units.
“Every hour without freezing capacity means more records lost to mould. Every day of delay means more families without proof of their homes, their citizenship, their rights,” the statement says. (Newswire)
