A Buddhist hall in western Japan famed for housing a centuries-old “eternal flame” has been destroyed by a fire on Miyajima Island. According to local police, the blaze at Reikado Hall near Mount Misen in Hiroshima Prefecture was first reported on Wednesday, 20 May. Firefighters brought the fire under control on Thursday, with around 30 personnel deployed to the scene, the local fire service said. Reikado Hall forms part of the Daishoin temple complex. Its “eternal flame” is believed to have been originally lit more than 1,200 years ago by the Buddhist monk Kukai.

Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Pref., May 20 (Jiji Press)--A hall linked to Buddhist saint Kukai on Miyajima Island burned to the ground on Wednesday, local police and firefighters in the…

The flame, which spiritual leaders say has been continuously lit for more 1,200 years, was salvaged after the blaze and moved to a different site.

The devastating blaze gutted part of Daishoin Temple on Miyajima Island in the city of Hatsukaichi, Hiroshima Prefecture, on Wednesday.

Incêndio atingiu o templo Daishō-in, na ilha de Miyajima, em Hiroshima. Autoridades afirmam que a 'Chama Eterna', ligada ao Memorial da Paz, não foi danificada.

Wednesday's fire gutted the 1,200-year-old structure on Miyajima island, though the sacred flame was rescued and taken elsewhere before firefighters brought the blaze under control

Fogo sagrado, que, segundo religiosos, está aceso há mais de 1.200 anos, foi resgatado do local

Era uno dei luoghi più importanti per il patrimonio culturale e religioso della zona

In Giappone un incendio distrugge il tempio della fiamma eterna di 1.200 anni a Miyajima. Il fuoco ha devastato il Reikado Hall.

A Buddhist hall in western Japan famed for housing a centuries-old “eternal flame” has been destroyed by a fire on Miyajima Island. According to local police, the blaze at Reikado…