The report said that at 7:00 a.m. on July 17, 2025, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism received a report about a fire at the national relic Bao Quoc Pagoda, Ngu Thien Commune. Immediately afterwards, the leaders of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Department of Cultural Management, the Provincial Relic Management Board, the Ethnic Religion Board - Department of Home Affairs, went to the scene to conduct an inspection, coordinate with agencies and units to meet with local leaders to direct and discuss solutions to overcome the consequences.
Hung Yen deploys to overcome damage caused by fire at national relic Bao Quoc pagoda
Through the actual inspection and quick report of the People's Committee of Ngu Thien commune, at about 4:30 a.m. on July 17, 2025, the abbot of Bao Quoc pagoda discovered a fire at the Front Hall, Bao Quoc pagoda. The monk called the People's Committee of Ngu Thien commune and the police of Ngu Thien commune to report, and at the same time, announced the mobilization of people and Buddhists near the pagoda as well as fire fighting equipment to carry out measures to extinguish the fire. At 5:30 a.m., the fire was controlled and extinguished. The initial cause was estimated to be an electrical short circuit.
When the working group of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Department of Home Affairs arrived at the relic, the fire had been extinguished. The provincial police and the commune police are conducting an inspection of the scene to investigate and determine the cause of the fire.
Regarding the initial damage, the three compartments of the Front Hall had some columns burned on the surface, the rafters, rafters, and roof components were completely burned. The structure of the building was very weak and could no longer bear the load, causing part of the roof of the Front Hall to collapse. The entire Buddha Hall, interior, and system of Buddha statues and worship objects remained intact and undamaged.
On July 18, 2025, the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism issued Official Dispatch No. 74/SVHTTDL-QLVH, directing the People's Committee of Ngu Thien commune to promptly investigate and determine the cause of the fire in order to take measures to handle and prevent recurrence; review, evaluate and determine the responsibility of related individuals and organizations (if any) for violations in the process of managing and protecting the relic.
Immediately implement safety measures for the area where the fire occurred, prevent illegal entry, prevent theft and loss of relics and artifacts; overcome the fire incident, build a shelter to protect the relic, immediately deploy support, reinforcement and reinforcement measures to prevent the relic from collapsing.
Make detailed statistics on damage to assets, worship objects, sacrificial objects, relics, artifacts, architecture and related works of the relic; make a plan to move all worship objects, sacrificial objects and relics and artifacts at the relic to a suitable location to preserve, maintain and protect the safety of all worship objects, sacrificial objects, relics and artifacts (take photos, make a diagram of the system of statues and worship objects as a basis for worship arrangement after completing the restoration and embellishment of the relic).
Strengthening propaganda, education, and information orientation for people, especially information on the internet and social networks, to raise public awareness about protecting cultural heritage, especially religious relics.
Inspect, review, and strengthen the entire fire prevention and fighting system at the relics in the area, develop and train on-site fire prevention plans, raise awareness of fire prevention for officials and people, ensure compliance with fire prevention and fighting safety requirements, promptly report on the work of overcoming the consequences of the fire to the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, and at the same time, make a plan to renovate and embellish the relics, including preserving affected structures and restoring damaged structures, relics and artifacts (if any) to ensure the preservation and promotion of the cultural heritage values of Bao Quoc Pagoda.
On the side of Ngu Thien Commune People's Committee, they quickly cleaned up, moved all the furniture, Buddha statues, worship objects and relics and artifacts at the relic to the pagoda's guest house for preservation and maintenance.
Take measures to support, reinforce, and prevent the relic from collapsing. - Build a cover (made of corrugated iron) to protect the relic and assign police and security forces at the grassroots level, along with the pagoda and local people, to take turns protecting the relic.
In the coming time, the People's Committee of Ngu Thien Commune will continue to coordinate with the Provincial Police to determine and investigate the cause of the fire; assess the damage and propose solutions to overcome the incident to submit to the Provincial People's Committee and the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for consideration and decision.
The Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism directs the functional departments of the Department to coordinate with the People's Committee of Ngu Thien commune to preserve all wooden structures that have not been completely burned (take detailed photos of the fire scene, create a photo file with specific annotations: construction part, wooden structures, documents, relics, artifacts... as a basis for future restoration of the relic.
In addition, the Department also directed the Provincial Relic Management Board and the People's Committees of communes in the province to strengthen the management and protection of relics, ensuring that there are always people on duty at the relics. Inspect, review, and consolidate the entire fire prevention and fighting system at relics in the area, develop and train on-site fire prevention plans, raise awareness of fire prevention for officials and people, and ensure compliance with fire safety requirements. In particular, pay special attention to inspecting relics that are deteriorating, relics with wooden architecture, and relics that are places of religious activities and beliefs where incense and candles are regularly burned, so that timely plans can be made to ensure the safety of the relics and visitors.
Source: https://bvhttdl.gov.vn/hung-yen-trien-khai-khac-phuc-thiet-hai-do-hoa-hoan-xay-ra-tai-di-tich-quoc-gia-chua-bao-quoc-20250722105003823.htm
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