VietNamNet Bridge – A huge fire at around 10am on Monday destroyed a 340-year-old communal house, recognised as a National Historical Relic Site.

Dinh Luu Communal House before the incident.

Locals discovered a fire had started in the main worship room at Dinh Luu Communal House in Dong Phuong Commune, Dong Hung District, in the northern province of Thai Binh. The fire soon spreaded to neighbouring rooms.

People inside the House managed to get out in time, therefore there were no casualties.

However, most of the wooden architecture collapsed following the incident.

Local authorities sent two fire engines to extinguish the fire, but it was only by 2pm on the same day that the fire was completed put out.

Dinh Luu Communal House was built in 1670 in a traditional design with three main rooms and two wings. All its pillars are made of lim (iron) wood. The House worships Nam Hai Dai Vuong (Sea God).

The architecture has been upgraded several times. It hosts several valuable royal documents dating back to the Nguyen Dynasty (1892-1945).

The fire occurred when the architecture was being upgraded, hence all items had been moved to another place. There was no loss of property.

The architecture was recognised as a National Historical Relic Site in 1990. 

Firemen work at the site and put out the fire three hours later. Dinh Luu Communal House in a big fire on November 27. — Photos thethaovanhoa.vn

Source: VNS