Fifteen people had to be evacuated and the roof of the building collapsed. The Thailand ambassador went to Breux-Jouy to express his support for the monks.
Published
Updated
Reading time: 1min
The What Pho, the largest Buddhist temple in France was partly destroyed on the night of Friday July 11 to Saturday July 12 in Breux-Jouy (Essonne). Fifteen people were evacuated, five of which are in relative emergency, learned France 3 Paris Ile-de-France to the department of fire and rescue (SDIS) of the department. They were placed under respirator due to inhaled smoke.
The fire, of electric origin, broke out around 10:30 p.m. Friday evening, according to the same source. The fire was extinguished Saturday around 3 am, thanks to the efforts of the 66 firefighters engaged. The Thailand ambassador to France, Sarun Charoensuwan, went there to offer food and basic necessities to the monks, adds diplomatic representation on his Facebook account. The roof of the building collapsed, according to the photographs published in the message.
In total, 300 m2 of surfaces were disaster-founded at the roof and the first floor, according to the firefighters in the department, as well as 150 m2 on the ground floor. Inaugurated in November 2023, this spiritual center installed in the Essonnian commune of 1,300 inhabitants is considered to be the largest Buddhist temple in France.
