MELBOURNE – In the Australian city of Melbourne, a Buddhist temple was badly damaged by fire.
About 80 firefighters battled the blaze at the Bright Moon Buddhist Temple for more than two hours before it was brought under control Sunday evening.
There were no casualties in the fire, which was visible for several kilometers (miles). The cause of the fire is still unknown, Assistant Fire Chief Paul Foster said.
He told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that firefighting efforts were done with cultural sensitivity.
“It’s not only a place of worship, but also a gathering place for the local Buddhist community, and we’ve always engaged with members of that community to keep them informed of what we’re doing and consider their concerns,” Foster said. said.
About 30 residents were evacuated from the area.
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