Seoul: Firefighters on Tuesday managed to extinguish a fire that erupted at a building within the Jogye Temple compound in central Seoul, with no injuries reported, officials confirmed. The fire was successfully contained at 11:57 a.m., approximately an hour and a half after it ignited in the international conference hall located on the second floor of the Korean Buddhism History and Culture Memorial Hall adjacent to the temple.
According to Yonhap News Agency, around 300 individuals were safely evacuated as 142 personnel and 35 fire vehicles were mobilized to combat the blaze. Efforts by the firefighters ensured that the fire did not extend to the temple itself or the nearby Central Buddhist Museum, which houses significant cultural artifacts.
In response to the threat posed by the fire, authorities relocated eight out of the 33 artifacts on display at the museum to a secure art storage facility at the National Palace Museum of Korea to prevent potential damage.
Fire authorities are currently conducting an investigation into the cause of the fire, focusing on eyewitness reports that indicate the fire might have originated from sparks emitted by a ceiling air conditioner.