A 15-storey wooden Buddhist pagoda and prayer hall in China’s Sichuan province, believed to be the tallest in Asia, has collapsed after a devastating fire.
No casualties were reported in Sunday’s (Dec 10th) blaze, which also took out two halls at the temple complex. The site was in the process of being reconstructed after being destroyed in a major earthquake in 2008.
The original structure dates to the 16th century.
Witnesses said the fire started at one temple hall before wind spread it to the other two buildings.
“The fire started at the Great Buddha Hall and spread to the Jade Emperor Hall. Then the wind was blowing, and the pagoda was also on fire,” witness Yu Guixiang said.
It took four hours for firefighters to bring the fire under control.
An investigation into the cause of the fire is underway.
Image shows a typical Chinese pagoda design, for illustration purposes. Photograph from Pixabay.
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