:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():format(jpeg)/bernaga-monastery-fire-la-valletta-brianza-101325-5-c79669f15d4448f9922e2717195f2bfa.jpg)
NEED TO KNOW
- More than 20 nuns had to be evacuated as fire raged through their monastery in Italy
- The fire broke out on the evening of Saturday, Oct. 11, at the Bernaga Monastery in Perego, La Valletta, which is around 19 miles east of Milan
- Local councilor Massimo Sertori confirmed on Facebook that 19 of the evacuated nuns are being hosted by the Little Apostles charity in Ponte Lambro, while two are in the hospital
More than 21 nuns escaped a raging fire that ripped through a monastery in Italy, according to local authorities.
Shortly after 8 p.m. local time on Saturday, Oct. 11, a fire broke out on the roof at the Bernaga Monastery in Perego, La Valletta, which is around 19 miles east of Milan, the BBC and the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reported.
The fire ripped through the monastery over a few hours, partially destroying the building, per the outlets. The local fire brigade was alerted and rushed to the scene, per Reuters.
All 21 nuns living there were evacuated, councilor of the region Massimo Sertori confirmed on Facebook. “19 [of them] are now hosted by the Little Apostles in Ponte Lambro, two [are] in a hospital near Erba,” he said.
The fire is thought to have been caused by a short circuit in one of the cells of an Ambrosian Romite monk who also lived there, Sertori claimed.
Vigili del Fuoco/Facebook
Photos shared by Setori show the monastery entirely ablaze, with flames escaping the roof. Firefighters and fire trucks are seen surrounding the building.
No serious injuries were reported in the incident other than an 87-year-old nun who suffered “minor intoxication,” Corriere della Sera noted.
The structure of the building was seriously damaged in the fire, while premium paintings stored inside the property were also damaged, said Setori.
As of Sunday, Oct. 12, the flames still had not been fully extinguished.
“Since last night #vigilidelfuoco have been engaged in the #incendio of the Monastero della Bernaga in Valletta Brianza. Flames under control, currently the long cleanup operations of the areas traversed by the fire,” the Italian fire brigade, Vigili del Fuoco, wrote on X.
Vigili del Fuoco/Facebook
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
“A due THANK YOU to the firefighters, who intervened in a timely manner with nine teams from Lecco, Monza Brianza and Como,” Setori continued on Facebook. “The operations of extinguishing and securing what remains of the monastery are still underway.”
The Bernaga Monastery first opened in 1628 and it is where Saint Carlo Acutis, the first millennial saint, took his first communion in 1998, per Reuters.
Saint Acutis died of leukemia at the age of 15 in 2006. The late teen was canonized during a ceremony led by Pope Leo XIV in St. Peter’s Square outside the Vatican on Sept. 7.
PEOPLE has reached out to the Vigili del Fuoco for comment, but did not immediately hear back.