• Central Asia's largest mosque ravaged by fire, 1 person killed

    Mukhtar Kholdorbekov / Reuters

    Smoke rises above the Khazret Sultan mosque in Astana, Kazakhstan, Jan. 15. The mosque, which is regarded as the largest in Central Asia, was on fire on Sunday and 20 vehicles were involved in the firefighting operation.

    AP reports the blaze was likely caused by welding equipment that set fire to scaffolding installed beneath the central dome of the mosque which is still under construction.

    EPA

    People watch as firefighters try to extinguish the fire on the Khazret Sultan mosque in Astana, Kazakhstan, Jan. 15.