For the second time this year, fire broke out at Nongprue Temple, this time gutting the abbot’s residence.
Ten fire engines from the Nongprue Disaster Prevention and Mitigation Department, Pong and Pattaya battled the March 24 blaze for 30 minutes. Damage was estimated at about 1 million baht.
The fire was the second in about six weeks. Fire damaged a meditation pavilion and an antiques museum at the temple Feb. 12, causing more than 50 million baht in damage.
Firefighters work to extinguish a blaze in the abbot’s residence at Nongprue Temple.
The residence also houses a radio station for the national Buddhism broadcasting center. Earlier that day, Abbot Phipitkitjarak said he was told the station’s transmitter was running very hot, but he dismissed any threat of fire it posed. Shortly before the flames erupted, witnesses reported hearing several electrical popping sounds.
