One of Chile’s oldest churches was destroyed by a fire. The historic San Francisco Church in Chile, was a 17th-century landmark. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, which has resulted in a total destruction of the church. There were no casualties
On Friday October 11th, it consumed the parish of Saint Anthony of Padova and the Franciscan convent, known as the Church of Saint Francis, in the Chilean region of Tarapacá.
One of the oldest Catholic structures
It was one of the oldest Catholic buildings in all of Chile, made primarily of wood, and dating from the 17th century.
The Church was built at the time of the Spanish conquest and the first arrival of the Franciscan order in the region, and had been recognized as a national monument since 1994.
The flames had originated the previous day under the statue of a saint, and were initially contained by the fire brigade.
They then resumed 24 hours later, for unknown reasons. The firefighting units, twelve in total, were unable to prevent the fire from completely consuming the wooden building.
The authorities have opened an investigation and a team of investigators is now working to find evidence of the initial cause of the fire. Source: Vatican News
The National Monument was Lost after the Historic Chilean Church was Engulfed in Flames.
Iconic San Francisco Church in Iquique, Chile, burns to ashes despite firefighters' efforts. It was declared a national monument in 1994, the wooden structure couldn't be saved. No casualties have been reported
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