Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism requests urgent protection of national treasures after Pho Quang Pagoda fire

On the evening of October 23, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued a document signed by Deputy Director of the Department of Cultural Heritage Pham Dinh Phong, requesting the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Phu Tho province to direct relevant agencies to coordinate with local authorities to urgently conduct a site inspection at the relic and take immediate measures to protect the national treasure, the stone Buddha altar at Pho Quang pagoda, after the fire on the morning of October 23.

Pho Quang Pagoda devastated after the fire. (Photo: Provided by the Department of Cultural Heritage)

The Ministry's document said that, according to reports in some media, the national relic Xuan Lung pagoda, Xuan Lung commune, Lam Thao district, Phu Tho province was destroyed. on fire at approximately 10:00 a.m. on October 23, 2024.

Regarding this, the Department of Cultural Heritage requests the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism of the province. Phu Tho direct the competent authorities to coordinate with local authorities to urgently conduct a site inspection at the relic, take immediate measures to protect the national treasure, the Stone Buddha Altar, and at the same time assess the extent of damage and propose a solution, and report to the People's Committee of Phu Tho province and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism before 10:00 a.m. on October 24.

Crews continued to pour water on the fire to cool it down.

At around 10am on October 23, Pho Quang Pagoda caught fire. At 10:30am, firefighters arrived at the scene and began to put out the fire. By 11:30am, the fire was completely extinguished.

The national treasure stone lotus altar was heavily damaged in the fire.

A quick report on the damage after the fire by the People's Committee of Xuan Lung commune said that the facilities in the pagoda were completely damaged, including the main hall and the system of 27 Buddha statues. The national treasure, the lotus stone pedestal, had its petals broken. The fire is estimated to have caused about 27 billion VND in damage.

Pho Quang Pagoda is a national relic dating back over 800 years, currently preserving a system of ancient statues dating back hundreds of years, and a national treasure, the lotus stone pedestal.

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