A temple at Boeung Khyang pagoda in Boeung Khyang commune’s Brolay village, Kandal Stung district, Kandal province, was damaged by fire on Monday.

Several Buddha statues were severely damaged in the fire, which was caused by an electrical fault. Police sent eight fire trucks to the scene to contain the fire.

District police chief Men Chanrith said authorities intervened before the flames reached the rest of the temple.

“The fire almost destroyed the whole temple. However, the authorities intervened on time,” he said, and called on locals to be careful with fire because it damages properties and endangers lives.

Commune police chief Pring Ratha said on Monday that the incident occurred at around 11am, and the fire was extinguished by 12:30pm.

He said the temple was 16m long, 8m wide and 14m high. The roof was made from wood and tiles and the floor was of concrete.

The damaged materials in the temple included one large and seven small Buddha statues, three pairs of large candles, two pairs of small candles, four carpets and five mats.

He said police used 73 cubic metres of water to extinguish the flames. One fire truck was from the district, two from Kandal, two from the Bodyguard Department, two from the Phnom Penh International Airport and one from a private company.

He said the intervention force included 10 district officials, three administrative police forces, district Military Police, village guards and nearby villagers.