Scene of 800-year-old temple burned to the ground in Phu Tho

10/23/2024 | 18:25

TPO – The fire on the morning of October 23rd burned down the roof of Pho Quang Pagoda (Xuan Lung Commune, Lam Thao District, Phu Tho ). In the afternoon of the same day, the authorities blocked off the scene with tarpaulins, and a large number of police officers were present to protect and investigate.

Two hours after the fire, authorities covered the main hall of Pho Quang Pagoda with a tarpaulin to protect the scene and assist in the investigation. From a distance, many parts of the tiled roof had fallen off, revealing the charred roof frame.

From the outside, except for the damaged roof, the wall surrounding the main hall seems intact. Pho Quang Pagoda dates back more than 800 years. According to Xuan Lung residents, the pagoda was renovated and rebuilt about 3 years ago.

However, a bird's-eye view shows more clearly the scale of the fire, which had spread throughout the main temple. Ranked as a national historical site, the temple preserves many valuable relics and antiques, especially the stone Buddhist altar made during the Tran Dynasty. In 2021, this stone Buddhist altar was recognized as a national treasure.

Panoramic view of the temple grounds with the main temple roof dark grey after the fire. To date, the details of the damage caused by the fire have not been released.

Apart from the main pagoda, other construction items in the overall Pho Quang pagoda relic site are not affected.

After the fire was put out, many police officers were present at the temple to protect the scene and assist in the investigation.

The temple gate is always closed, only open for authorized people to enter and exit. According to people living around the temple, the fire was only discovered when it reached the roof of the main hall at around 10:30. By 12:00, the fire department had controlled the fire.

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