Abroad
Fire breaks out at 1,500-year-old Yongqing temple in China
No casualties were reported.
November 14, 2025, 12:14 PM
A fire engulfed the pavilion of a temple in Jiangsu province, China, on Nov. 12.
The fire broke out at the three-storey wooden Wenchang Pavilion located within the 1500-year-old Yongqing temple in Zhangjiagang city at around 11:24am, reported The Standard.
According to Global Times, the fire was likely caused by the improper use of incense and candles by a visitor.
No casualties
Videos shared on social media showed the pavilion bursting into flames from top to bottom.
Thick smoke was seen billowing into the sky.
Pieces of the damaged roof were caught midair as they tumbled from the structure.
According to The Standard, only the pavilion's concrete frame remained intact after the fire.
No casualties were reported.
Fire caused by incense and candles
Preliminary investigations revealed that the blaze was caused by a visitor's improper use of incense and candles, reported Global Times.
The pavilion, built in October 2009, contained no cultural relics.
Authorities said that all structures within the temple complex are modern constructions, with no ancient architectural remains.
Legal action will be taken against those responsible for the fire, and measures will be implemented to eliminate potential risks and hazards.
Authorities also confirmed that the fire did not spread to surrounding forested areas.
Yongqing Temple, located on Fenghuang Mountain, was built during the Southern Liang dynasty.
The Wenchang Pavilion had been rebuilt in 1993 after the original structure was demolished and the resident monks dismissed in 1958.
Top photos via @inzhejiang/Instagram, Alerta Mundial & Aykırı/X
