Fire breaks out at Hoa Nghiem Buddhist Temple in Melbourne’s Springvale South

Firefighters desperately battle a massive blaze that has engulfed a Buddhist temple and threatens to spread further.

Around three dozen fire engines carrying 150 firefighters were called to the Bright Moon Buddhist Society temple in Melbourne’s south-eastern suburb of Springvale South after a fire broke out around 8pm on Sunday.

On social media posts, onlookers could be heard gasping “Oh my God” as the inferno raged with flames shooting high into the air and thick smoke billowing from the scene of devastation.

The Bright Moon Buddhist Society temple in the south-east Melbourne suburb of Springvale South was engulfed in fire

Much of the main building of the Hoa Nghiem Buddhist temple appears to have already been gutted.

Fire Rescue Victoria has issued a Watch and Act alert for the surrounding areas of Dingley Village, Keysborough, Noble Park and Springvale South.

Residents in these areas are advised to stay indoors and close all outside doors and windows, turn off heating and cooling systems, and avoid the area where the fire is located while they monitor the situation.

The authorities also asked residents to keep the streets clear for emergency vehicles.

Springvale Road has been closed in Springvale South.

Smoke from the fire at the two-story temple was seen up to 15 kilometers away.

A local resident has speculated that the fire, which broke out around 8pm on Sunday, may have been caused by a candle or Chinese New Year fireworks

The temple is a well-known landmark in the South East and is used by many thousands of Buddhist devotees from across Melbourne.

A resident of a townhouse behind the temple, Joanne Tran, told the Herald Sun she believes the temple was celebrating the Lunar New Year when the fire broke out.

“They usually have firecrackers and candles, the whole work, maybe some of it got lit,” she said.