A weekend fire that destroyed a hall at a temple designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site was possibly caused by lightning, officials said.The fire that broke out in a corner of Daigoji temple razed the Juntei Kannondo hall and a rest house. The blaze died down at about 2:50 a.m. on Sunday.
Investigators said that a temple priest on duty at the time heard the sound of thunder and a lightning strike late on Saturday, so went around to check the compound, and discovered the fire shortly after 12 a.m. on Sunday.
At the time, a thunderstorm warning had been issued for southern Kyoto. Kyoto Prefectural Police and other officials believe that there was a high possibility that a lightning strike started the fire.
Juntei Kannondo hall is not registered as a cultural asset. The fire did not damage any neighboring cultural assets, and no one was injured, although it was believed that the hall's main Buddhist statue was destroyed by fire.( News -Mainichi Japan)
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