Fire Destroys Giant Buddha Statue In China

A giant Buddha statue in northwest China’s Gansu province went up in flames in the early hours of Monday, July 24. The statue, which was a replica of an original built around 425 AD, was located...

Published 26 Jul 2023

Oke Odunmorayo

A giant Buddha statue in northwest China’s Gansu province went up in flames in the early hours of Monday, July 24. The statue, which was a replica of an original built around 425 AD, was located at the Shandan Great Buddha Temple in Shandan County.
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The fire started at around 2:30 AM and quickly spread to the statue and several other temple structures. Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire by 4:00 AM, but the statue was badly damaged.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation, but local officials have ruled out arson. They believe that the fire may have been caused by an electrical fault.

The Shandan Great Buddha Temple is a popular tourist destination, and the fire has caused significant damage to the site. The temple’s cultural relics, including a number of ancient Buddhist statues, were not damaged in the fire.

The fire is a major loss for the Shandan community, and it is a reminder of the fragility of cultural heritage. Watch the video below;