Zhinan Temple's Lingxiao Baodian Hall Gutted by Fire

A fire ravaged the Lingxiao Baodian Hall at Taipei's Zhinan Temple on the evening of August 24, leaving the landmark structure in ruins. Firefighters battled the blaze for hours, with the fire controlled by late evening and extinguished in the early hours of August 25. Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities were reported.

Taipei City Councilor Miao Poya visited the site after finishing work at the city council. She shared images of the devastation on Facebook, noting that the hall, a significant landmark, was almost entirely destroyed. She met with the temple's chairman, Gao Chaowen, and the local里長 (neighborhood chief), Zhang Jianan, to discuss immediate post-disaster needs and future reconstruction efforts.

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Thank you to the firefighters and volunteer firefighters for mobilizing over a hundred people to rescue. Lu Xianzu blesses us. Although Zhinan Temple suffered a fire, fortunately, there were no casualties.

Fire department officials reported that over 110 firefighters and 18 volunteer firefighters were mobilized to combat the fire. Taipei's Deputy Mayor Chang Wender also visited the scene overnight, and Mayor Chiang Wan-an was scheduled to inspect the damage on the morning of August 25, canceling a previously planned city council meeting.

The incident occurred during the hall's 60th anniversary year. Miao Poya framed the disaster as a test from the divine, urging unity to overcome the challenge. The temple's chairman also expressed gratitude for the swift response of the emergency services and looked towards rebuilding.

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This year marks the 60th anniversary of the completion of Lingxiao Baodian. The test and instruction given by the gods to mortals is surely to ask us to work together again to overcome the difficulties.