HCA NEWS Fire at the World Library

A fire broke out Sunday at the World Library in Alexandria, Egypt. The Danish State donated an interactive Hans Christian Andersen room to the library last fall at the opening.

By ms - H.C. Andersen 2005 - 03 March 2003

A fire raged Sunday at the World Library in Alexandria, Egypt. The fire broke out as the result of a short circuit on the fifth floor, where mostly administrative personnel are located. Therefore, no precious books were at any time at risk, writes the news agency Reuters.

The fire was not brought under control for more than an hour, and at least 35 people had to be hospitalized and checked for smoke inhalation. Fortunately, no one was seriously injured.

The World Library in Alexandria opened in October 2002 with huge ceremony to mark the reconstruction of the original world library, which Alexander the Great built on the Egyptian Mediterranean coast in 332 B.C.

Denmark's gift to the library is an interactive Hans Christian Andersen room, which Egypt's president Hosni Mubarak's wife, Suzanne Mubarak, received with great enthusiasm at the opening ceremony. The room will be completed in connection with the celebration of Hans Christian Andersen's 200th birthday in the year 2005.


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