GEORGE TOWN – Hardly a week after it was fully lit to mark the Year of the Tiger, the sprawling Kek Lok Si Temple on the foothills of the Penang Hill range saw a section on fire. Fortunately, the blaze was confined to an exterior praying area.
None of the main structures were damaged in the fire which began around midnight. This is the second fire incident to hit the complex since last year.
A state Fire and Rescue Department spokesman confirmed the blaze, saying that firemen from the Air Itam and Paya Terubong stations responded within minutes after a distress call was received.
The 131-year old Buddhist temple complex is the source of pride for Penang due to its old and lavish architecture. It also recently saw the opening of a charitable hospital.
The fire is believed to have started from sparks caused by a fallen candle. It is also understood that some prayer equipment were affected.
The flames were fully doused within 30 minutes.
During the Chinese New Year season, many devotees flock to the temple to recite prayers or admire the complex and soak in its serene atmosphere.
Many also visit their deceased relatives’ remains at a columbarium nearby.
Last October, a major blaze engulfed a prayer hall, which was undergoing renovation.
The Kek Lok Si Temple is one of the largest Buddhist temples in Southeast Asia.
It also boasts of a tall Pagoda of Rama VI (Pagoda of Ten Thousand Buddhas) with 10,000 alabaster and bronze statues of the Buddha, and a 36.57-metre-tall (120 ft) bronze statue of the Goddess of Mercy further uphill. – The Vibes, February 4, 2022
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