A fire believed to have been caused by an electrical short circuit has destroyed a 400-year-old church in Camarines Norte province.
The pre-dawn blaze today gutted the San Pedro Apostol church in Vinzons town, parish priest Francisco Regala Jr said, adding that many historical artifacts were lost in the fire.
The church, which was built in 1611 by Franciscan friars, is the one of the oldest in the country.
Fr Regala said the fire, which began at about 1 a.m. in the convent library, quickly spread to other parts of the church.
Firefighters finally put out the blaze at about 5:30 a.m.