The USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu will remain closed longer than initially expected, the National Park Service announced in a statement Friday.
According to Hawaii News Now, an operator of one of the vessels that transports tourists to and from the memorial noticed a crack in the exterior. When crews completed repairs, tourists were allowed once again to disembark onto the Arizona.
However, the cracks reappeared a few hours later, and officials were forced to suspend boat transportation to the memorial. Further investigation of the issue revealed that the structure was not supporting the loading ramp the way that was needed.
"The amount of time needed to implement the repairs is unknown, but the (National Park Service) will continue to provide information to the public as our team of specialists works together to restore access as soon as possible," memorial staff said Friday in a news release.
Other areas at the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center remain open and are still accepting visitors.
The USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor in Honolulu, Hawaii was built in 1962 to mark the resting place of 1,102 sailors and Marines killed during the surprise attack by the Japanese on December 7th, 1941 and is only accessible by boat. The attack on Pearl Harbor and O'ahu is what prompted the United States to enter World War II.
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