As reported by the BBC, a fire destroyed the San Francisco Church in Iquique, Chile, on Friday.
Despite efforts by twelve firefighting units, the mostly wooden structure could not be saved.
Local reports indicate that the church, which had been standing for centuries, was the first Catholic church built in the country.
According to the World Monuments Fund, the San Francisco Church was declared a national monument in 1994.
Regional authorities confirmed that there were no fatalities.
The cause of the fire is currently under investigation by local officials.
The San Francisco Church holds great cultural importance for Chile, being the first Catholic church constructed in the nation.
Built in a predominantly wooden structure, it stood as a historical monument for many years.
The loss of the church is a major blow to the cultural heritage of Iquique and Chile as a whole.
Investigations into the cause of the fire are ongoing, with local authorities working to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the blaze.
A fire destroyed the historic San Francisco Church in Iquique, Chile, on Friday.
The church, built primarily from wood, was the first Catholic church in the country and was declared a national monument in 1994.
Twelve firefighting units responded to the incident but were unable to save the structure.
Regional officials confirmed that there were no fatalities.
An investigation is ongoing to determine the cause of the fire.
