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| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Fire ravages South Korea landmark | Fire ravages South Korea landmark |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| A 14th Century gate in the South Korean capital, Seoul, has been partly destroyed by fire in a what police believe may have been an arson attack. | A 14th Century gate in the South Korean capital, Seoul, has been partly destroyed by fire in a what police believe may have been an arson attack. |
| Namdaemun, or the Great South Gate, was considered to be the country's greatest national treasure. | Namdaemun, or the Great South Gate, was considered to be the country's greatest national treasure. |
| More than 100 fire fighters fought the blaze after it broke out late on Sunday, but the wooden superstructure collapsed, leaving only the stone base. | |
| Two years ago it was re-opened to the public for the first time since 1907. | Two years ago it was re-opened to the public for the first time since 1907. |
| President-elect Lee Myung-bak visited the site on Monday, and said simply: "People's hearts will ache." | President-elect Lee Myung-bak visited the site on Monday, and said simply: "People's hearts will ache." |
| Rare monument | |
| Officially called Sungnyemun or Gate of Exalted Ceremonies, the gate had served as the main entrance to the city when Seoul became Korea's capital more than 600 years ago. | Officially called Sungnyemun or Gate of Exalted Ceremonies, the gate had served as the main entrance to the city when Seoul became Korea's capital more than 600 years ago. |
| It was one of the few historic monuments in a thoroughly modernised city, which had survived both the 1910-1945 Japanese occupation and the Korean war of 1950-1953. | |
| Namdaemun Seoul's southern gate during the 1392-1910 Chosun DynastyConstructed in 1398, rebuilt in 1447 and frequently renovatedSome pillars date back to original structureNamed top "national treasure" in 1962Opened to public in 2006 Namdaemun fire in pictures | |
| The BBC's Kevin Kim in Seoul says it was initially thought that the fire had been put out when firemen arrived at the gate shortly after the blaze was reported. | |
| But South Koreans were then shocked to see flames flare up at the building as they watched live images on national television. | |
| Officials from Korea's Cultural Heritage Administration had told firemen to proceed cautiously, meaning they could not immediately break into the area where the fire started, according to local media. | |
| Professor Lee Su-kyung of Seoul National University of Technology told Reuters news agency the fire could have been controlled early on had the firefighters targeted the right spot. | |
| "Someone could have gone inside the structure," he said. "I just don't understand." | |
| The police have refused to rule out either arson or an electrical fault as a possible cause of the fire. | |
| Yonhap news agency quoted one official as saying that disposable lighters had been found at the point where the fire is believed to have broken out. | |
| There were also reports of a man being seen at the building shortly before the blaze was reported. | |
| But officials said that early eyewitness accounts were "confusing". | |
| One officer said images from security cameras reviewed by authorities had shown no suspects. | |
| Grief | |
| "It is heartbreaking," said Kim Duk-Il, 40, a visitor from the southern city of Daegu, as the national icon was reduced to ashes. | "It is heartbreaking," said Kim Duk-Il, 40, a visitor from the southern city of Daegu, as the national icon was reduced to ashes. |
| By morning, only the stone base was left | By morning, only the stone base was left |
| "It remained okay even during the Korean War," Mr Kim told the AFP news agency, wiping away tears. "Our pride has fallen down." | "It remained okay even during the Korean War," Mr Kim told the AFP news agency, wiping away tears. "Our pride has fallen down." |
| First constructed in 1398, rebuilt in 1447 and renovated several times since, Namdaemun was the oldest wooden building in Seoul. | |
| The two-storey structure had been given the status of "National Treasure number one" in 1962. | |
| Initial estimates say the gate will take three years to restore, at a cost of $21m. | Initial estimates say the gate will take three years to restore, at a cost of $21m. |
| Authorities say they have detailed plans of the gate after measuring it in 2006. | |
| The blaze comes less than three years after fire destroyed one of the country's oldest Buddhist temples, Naksan temple, along with its prized bronze bell. | The blaze comes less than three years after fire destroyed one of the country's oldest Buddhist temples, Naksan temple, along with its prized bronze bell. |