"Massive damage." On BBC ticker, no report yet, will post as soon as available.

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2001

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A huge fire in Taiwan has caused damage to hi-tech firms running into tens of millions of dollars.

The fire - which burned for at least 35 hours - destroyed many company offices in a high-rise block near the capital, Taipei. It is not clear whether or not anyone was hurt.

The Acer group, which makes computers, said the fire had cost it an estimated $20m. The blaze started in the 26-storey office complex early on Saturday morning.

Firefighters initially thought they had put it out but the flames reappeared hours after they had left the scene.

It was reported to be still smouldering on Sunday afternoon local time, making it the longest-burning building fire in Taiwan's history.

Vice-President Annette Lu and Premier Chang Chun-hsiung visited the scene.

Flagship intact

Reuters news agency quoted the chairman of the Acer Group, Stan Shih, as saying he was relieved that the fire had not spread to a nearby tower housing the group's flagship computer maker Acer Inc 2306.TW.

That building is separated from the block of three towers where the fire began by a 50-metre exhibition hall.

Five other Acer companies were based in the gutted block, along with subsidiaries of several multi-national companies.

Taiwan is the world's leading producer of notebook computers and monitors, and ranks behind only the United States and Japan in computer hardware production as a whole.

-- Anonymous, May 13, 2001