Historic Japanese Buddhist Hall Containing 'Eternal Flame' Destroyed in Blaze

A Buddhist hall in Japan that housed a legendary 'eternal flame' has been completely destroyed by fire. The blaze erupted at the temple in the early hours of the morning, quickly engulfing the wooden structure. Firefighters battled the flames for several hours but were unable to save the building, which had stood for centuries. The eternal flame, said to have been burning for over 1,000 years, was extinguished in the disaster. Authorities are investigating the cause of the fire, with no reports of injuries. Local residents expressed deep sorrow over the loss of a cherished cultural and religious landmark.