Fire engulfs 100-year-old building in Myanmar's archaeological site in Bagan

YANGON (Bernama-Xinhua): A fire engulfed a two-storey building of over 100 years at a monastery in Myanmar's archaeological site Bagan, located in central Myanmar's Mandalay region, on Statuary night, an official from the fire service department told Xinhua on Sunday.

The blaze was caused by a candle that the sole abbot had lit on a cupboard containing sacred texts and prayer accessories, the official said.

While he stepped away to use the restroom, the candle ignited the texts, and the fire quickly spread due to the large wooden building being coated in petroleum. Fortunately, there were no casualties, he added. - Bernama-Xinhua