A 45-metre statue of Buddha in Vietnam has suddenly collapsed in the final phase of a three-year construction project.
The towering statue, temporarily the tallest in northern Vietnam, depicted a young, slender Buddha sitting in the lotus position at the popular Sac Thien Vuong Quan Am pagoda in Thai Binh province.
The statue was in the last stage of construction when it came crashing down late on Tuesday, said Pham Hong Thai, deputy chairman of the district.
No one was injured.
Local authorities are investigating the cause of the collapse.
The giant artwork was funded by tens of millions of dollars worth of contributions by Buddhists.
Buddhism is the largest faith in Vietnam.
A rash of construction accidents in Vietnam has recently prompted authorities to tighten safety rules.
