CHIANG MAI - A fire broke out at the main chapel of Wat Mongkol Wanaram, also known as Wat Pa Daet temple, in Saraphi district, damaging the roof and many objects inside. There were no casualties, police said.
Pol Capt Noppadol Ekachit, deputy chief investigator of Saraphi police, said police, rescuers and firefighters of tambon Pa Daet municipality in Muang district were despatched to the temple, located at the Chiang Mai-Lampang intersection, on being informed of the fire, which broke out at about 6am.
At the time, most of the monks were outside the temple for the routine alms-taking, including Phra Jirasak Panyawachiro, the acting abbot. Some of the monks were at the temple, cleaning up the compound.
The monks working inside the temple were the first to spot the fire burning the roof of the main chapel, sending plumes of smoke into the sky. They immediately informed the police and tambon Pae DaetmMunicipality.
The firefighters, with about 10 fire engines, were able to put out the fire at about 7.20am after it had burned down the roof and destroyed many articles, mostly electrical appliances, inside the chapel.
Nobody was hurt.
Police were investigating. It was initially believed the fire was caused by an electrical short circuit. The damage was estimated at about 1 million baht.