Syed Shayaan Bakht, Gulf Today
In a tragic incident, the Jakarta Islamic Center mosque in Indonesia was destroyed by a fire during its renovation on Wednesday.
Dramatic social media footage showed the moment the mosque’s dome collapsed.
Firefighters were alerted about the blaze shortly after 3pm local time, with at least ten fire engines being dispatched to the scene, Indonesia media reported.
The cause of the fire is not yet known. Media reports suggest that the Islamic Center was undergoing renovations at the time.
Video footage showed flames and smoke billowing from the mosque's dome just before it collapsed.
No one was injured in the fire or the ensuing collapse. Local media added that police are investigating the cause of the fire and have questioned contractors working in the building.
Apart from the mosque, the Islamic Center complex also houses educational, commercial and research facilities.
The mosque's dome last caught fire during renovations almost exactly 20 years ago, with the October 2002 blaze taking five hours to extinguish.