A fire early on Feb 10 reduced the front hall of the Ve Pagoda into ashes. - Photo: Vietnam News/ANN
BAC GIANG, (Vietnam): A devastating fire early on Monday (Feb 10) engulfed the Ve Pagoda, a 300-year-old pagoda in Tho Xuong Ward, the northern city of Bac Giang, reducing its front hall and rear sanctuary to ashes.
Firefighters and the local police department dispatched six fire trucks and 40 officers to battle the blaze, assisted by local security forces and residents. The fire was fully extinguished at 2am.
Initial reports indicate that the fire started late at night and was discovered too late to save the main structures. No casualties were reported.
The authorities are investigating the cause and assessing the damage.
Ve Pagoda is renowned for its cultural and artistic heritage, housing finely crafted 17th-century Buddhist statues that have preserved their gilded splendour for nearly three centuries.
Beyond Vinh Nghiem Pagoda in Yen Dung District, few pagodas in the region boast such an extensive and well-preserved collection of ancient Buddhist statues.
In 1994, Ve Pagoda was recognised as a national artistic heritage site.
This incident follows another major fire on Oct 23, 2024, at Pho Quang Pagoda in Xuan Lung Commune, Lam Thao District, Phu Tho Province.
Built over 800 years ago, Pho Quang Pagoda is also a nationally recognised historical site, home to valuable artefacts, including a 14th-century stone lotus pedestal.
The blaze caused considerable additional damage, destroying all wooden structures, traditional clay-tiled roofing, electrical systems and many wooden and clay statues.
Estimated losses totalled over US$986,000 (S$1.3 million).
In response, the authorities are intensifying fire safety awareness campaigns at religious sites, particularly temples, shrines and businesses selling votive offerings.
The authorities also recommend designating fire-safe areas for incense burning and votive offerings, ensuring fire equipment is well-maintained and restricting the use of flammable materials. - Vietnam News/ANN
