Giant dome collapses in Indonesian mosque fire

The large dome of a grand mosque in Indonesia’s capital Jakarta has collapsed after a major fire, without causing any casualties.

Dramatic footage obtained by AFP showed a thick column of grey smoke engulfing the dome while the flames destroyed the lower parts of the Jakarta Islamic Centre Grand Mosque on Wednesday.

Several construction workers were inspecting the fire from up close when the dome collapsed, sending them fleeing. Police said there were no casualties.

The grand mosque, located inside an Islamic centre complex, was undergoing renovation.

‘We have discussed the possibility of continuing the renovation … the most important (thing) is we can use it (the mosque) again soon,’ Jakarta’s acting governor Heru Budi Hartono told Metro TV on Thursday.

The cause of the fire, which took hours to extinguish, is under investigation, but police said they suspect it started from the sparks created when workers tried to cut waterproofing membranes for the dome. Four construction workers have been questioned in connection with the fire, police added.

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