SANGJU, South Korea– A German priest was confirmed dead in a fire at a reclusive Catholic monastery in the southeastern city of Sangju police and fire officials said Wednesday.

The blaze started at one of 12 one-floor residence halls inside of Carthusian Cloistered Monastery in Sangju, 270 kilometers southeast of Seoul, at 10:34 p.m. on Tuesday, they said.

The body of the 55-year-old Catholic monk from Germany was discovered in a hallway, they said.

Police and firefighters plan to look into the exact cause of the fire.

It is the only Carthusian monastery in Asia. Carthusian monks — estimated to number around 450 globally — are almost completely cut off from the world, even from their families.

Source: Yonhap News Agency