MELBOURNE, Australia – A Buddhist temple has been badly damaged by a fire in the Australian city of Melbourne.
About 80 firefighters battled the blaze at the Bright Moon Buddhist Temple for more than two hours before the blaze was brought under control late Sunday.
No injuries in flames visible for several kilometers (miles). Assistant Fire Chief Paul Foster said the cause of the fire has yet to be determined.
He told Australian Broadcasting Corp. that firefighting efforts are made with cultural sensitivity in mind.
“This is not just a place of worship, but a gathering place for the local Buddhist community, and we always engage members from that community to keep them informed of what we are doing and caring. to their concerns,” Foster said.
About 30 residents were evacuated from the area.
