In the days following a fire at Pho Quang Temple, the people of Xuan Lung Commune, Lam Thao District (Phu Tho Province), have gathered to clean the 800-year-old temple and reinforce its national treasure.

According to preliminary assessments by the Phu Tho Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, the fire at Pho Quang Temple, which occurred over a week ago, caused significant property damage. Among the items affected was the national treasure - a stone Buddha altar with a lotus pedestal - of which two corners of the fifth-tier lotus petal (the top layer) and one corner of the fourth-tier petal were damaged.

The entire temple roof, load-bearing columns, and doors were burned, and several statues, including those made of clay and wood, sustained structural damage.

Speaking with VietNamNet, Nguyen Dac Thuy, Director of the Department of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, stated that the police are still investigating the fire's cause. Meanwhile, the department has issued guidance to the Lam Thao District People's Committee on the steps required to restore Pho Quang Temple.

Nguyen Dinh Chinh, Deputy Head of the Pho Quang Temple Heritage Management Board, reported that after the authorities finished securing the scene, local residents began cleaning the temple. The national treasure stone Buddha altar has been reinforced with an iron frame for careful preservation. For damaged statues, restoration efforts are expected to bring them back to around 90% of their original condition.

Mr. Chinh noted that, to protect the remaining assets and artifacts, the temple management board and the Xuan Lung Commune People's Committee will install a temporary roof over the Tam Bao Hall. Plans are underway to propose a restoration strategy for Pho Quang Temple to meet the religious needs of the local community.

Previously, at around 10:00 AM on October 23, locals noticed a fire at the Tam Bao Hall of Pho Quang Temple. Firefighters and emergency response teams arrived by 10:15 AM, and the fire was contained and extinguished by 11:40 AM. Preliminary estimates place the total material damage at approximately 25 billion VND ($1 million).