Fire destroys 1453-built temple in Japan

A fire broke out on the evening of May 16 at the Buddhist temple Daigoji Temple in the Japanese city of Takaoka.

The main wooden hall of the temple was completely destroyed by the blaze. The fire also spread to a nearby exhibition center and an unoccupied house, as per foreign media.

Two families were living on the temple grounds and were successfully evacuated without injuries. Local media reported that the spread of the fire was contained by around 22:20, while the blaze was fully extinguished only around 3:00 a.m., according to Fuji News Network.

Local guides indicate that the temple housed ancient 16th-century Buddhist scrolls attributed to artist Hasegawa Tōhaku, though their condition remains unknown.

By Jeyhun Aghazada