Fire razes church

DENPASAR, Bali: Fire razed the Efrata church in Buduk village, Badung district, some 15 km southwest of here, Wednesday.

No casualties were reported but material losses were estimated to reach Rp 500 million (US$217,000), spokesman for the Balinese Synod of the Protestant Church, Wayan Sudira Usada, said.

The fire raged as the Christian community in the predominantly Hindu island was celebrating Christmas, Antara reported.

The two-hour fire, believed to have been caused by a candle left burning after the Christmas holy mass that morning, started burning the electrical wires at 4:30 p.m.

The church, built in 1931, was the oldest Protestant church on the island.

Last year, a fire also burned down a Protestant church in Legian, Kuta during Christmas, Sudira said.

Investigations into the cause of the fire are underway. (swe)