Shanghai's Oriental Pearl Tower catches fire, no casualties reported 

SHANGHAI, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai's symbolic Oriental Pearl Tower caught fire early on Tuesday, but no casualties were reported.

The antenna at the top of the 468-meter television tower caught fire around 2 a.m. and has been put out by firefighters, local police said.

Before the fire there was thunder, which could have triggered the fire.

Firefighters immediately responded to the fire and extinguished it in more than an hour. It was pouring as they were trying to put out the flames.

The tower is in the city's financial center, Lujiazui, in Pudong district, by the side of Huangpu River. The unique design of the tower, featuring two gigantic spheres linked by three columns, attracts millions of visitors each year.

Police said the fire did not leave any casualties or damage to the construction of the tower.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Shanghai will host the 2010 World Expo from May 1 until October.


相关中文报道（摘自凤凰网）

据新华网报道，4月13日凌晨2时左右，位于上海浦东陆家嘴的东方明珠塔顶端发射架发生火灾，已被消防人员扑灭，未造成人员伤亡。

据报道，事发之前，上海地区发生雷电天气，东方明珠塔顶端发射架可能遭受雷击。起火后，消防部门迅速出动救援，在1个小时内将火扑灭。此时正下大雨，也为灭火创造了有利条件。上海浦东警方表示，火灾未造成人员伤亡，也未对东方明珠塔的建筑结构造成影响。

目前，事故原因正在调查中。

东方明珠广播电视塔，又名东方明珠塔，坐落在上海浦东新区陆家嘴，毗邻黄浦江，与外滩隔江相望。东方明珠塔是由上海现代建筑设计（集团）有限公司的江欢成设计。建筑动工于1991年，历时三年于1994年竣工，投资总额达8.3亿元人民币。高467.9米，当时为亚洲第一，世界第三高塔，仅次于加拿大国家电视塔（553.3米）及俄罗斯奥斯坦金诺电视塔（540.1米）。东方明珠广播电视塔由三根直径为9米的擎天立柱、太空舱、上球体、下球体、五个小球、塔座和广场组成。

【小编想太多】

话说……昨天小编刚做完一篇介绍上海旅行胜地的文章，名为《上海好白相之二：陆家嘴不止东方明珠》——哪知“你”会那么在意、当晚就做出“自焚”这种过激行为…… 明珠！表酱紫、我对不起你嘛！

上海好白相之二：陆家嘴不止有东方明珠>>