OLDEST CATHOLIC CHURCH FIRE MAY BE CAUSED BY ARSON|全台最早天主堂 屏東萬金聖母堂火警

The Wanchin Basilica in Pingtung is the oldest Catholic Church in Taiwan. Yesterday a fire broke out at the altar. Although the fire was put out immediately, the wooden statue of the Virgin Mary was damaged. Shortly after the fire broke out, a man was seen fleeing the scene. The police now suspects arson as the cause of the fire. Fire engines and ambulances rushed to the scene. Police and firefighters were on high alert to make sure the fire was put out completely. The Wanchin Basilica is 155-year-old historic building. In the afternoon of July 3rd, smoke was seen coming out from the altar. Visitors helped put out the fire quickly. However, the 60-year-old wooden statue of Virgin Mary still suffered some damage. ==EYEWITNESS== The smoke came out so quickly, the wooden statue and its clothing were burned. It was not a big fire, but the smoke kept coming out. ==PRIEST, Wanchin Basilica== There was no major damage. The clothing of the statue was burned. The statue itself did not suffer serious damage, maybe a little blackened. Witnesses reported seeing someone fleeing the scene when the fire broke out. Forensic investigators went back to the site to collect evidence. ==TSENG KUO-CHOU, Pingtung County Police Bureau== Evidence has been collected to determine how the fire started. It is an on-going investigation, and we're not ruling out anything. Police said the cause of the fire is still under investigation. The Pingtung County Government will also seek advice from experts to help restore the artifacts at the church. TRANSLATED BY：CHRISTINA LIU 消防車、救護車緊急趕到現場，警消人員戒備，就怕再有火舌冒出。這裡是全台歷史最悠久的屏東萬金聖母教堂，已經有155年歷史。3號下午，民眾發現聖母像小神壇冒火，遊客緊急協助撲滅火勢，但有60年歷史的木造聖母像還是有損傷，而起火的原因疑似是人為縱火。 ==目擊民眾== 冒煙那個是很快 應該是燒到那個衣服跟木頭 所以 火不是那一種 好像很恐怖那一種火 可是煙一直冒 一直冒 原來火災當下，有民眾看到可疑人士，上午鑑識人員重回現場採集證據，警方也調閱周遭監視器畫面，鎖定這名38歲的男子，警方發現男子在教堂周圍來回走動，員警將人帶回派出所，他坦承用打火機縱火。 ==屏東萬金聖母教堂神父== 還好 主要是衣服外面燒掉而已 連轎子像本身 都沒有什麼傷害 有的話 大概就是(臉)燻黑了一點 男子為何縱火，警方還要釐清，但聖母教堂中被燒毀的文物，屏東縣府也將請修補文物的專家提供建議，彙整後交給教堂當作參考。 記者 王柔婷 陳顯坤 屏東報導