An electrical short-circuit has been blamed for the fire that destroyed a major church in the northern province of Nam Dinh on Saturday night.

An electrical short-circuit has been blamed for the fire that destroyed a major church in the northern province of Nam Dinh on Saturday night. 

The fire in the Trung Lao Church, Trung Dong Commune, Truc Ninh District, was first spotted at around 11.30pm. 

Around 100 local firefighters and five fire-fighting engines were mobilised to extinguish the fire.

It took them more than three hours to bring the fire under control because it was a big blaze fanned by strong winds. 

The fire was completely extinguished around 6am Sunday morning.

The Trung Lao Church, built in 1888, was 50 metres long, 16 metres wide and 12 metres high. 

The beauty of the 130 year-old church before being burnt down:

VNS/Zing/VOV