CHURCH ON FIRE; PAINTINGS BEING REMOVED.




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Background: IN ANTWERP TODAY (WEDNESDAY) A PRICELESS COLLECTION OF OLD MASTERS WAS SAVED WHEN FIRE SWEPT THROUGH THE SIXTEENTH CENTURY CHURCH OF ST. PAUL.

THE FIRE WAS FANNED BY A STRONG WIND, AND STUDENTS AND PEOPLE FROM NEARBY CAFES ASSISTED FIREMEN IN FIGHTING THE BLAZE AND REMOVING THE SCORES OF VALUABLE ART WORKS CONTAINED IN THE CHURCH.

RESCUERS SLASHED PAINTINGS FROM THEIR FRAMES TO SAVE THEM FROM THE FIRE. THE PAINTINGS IN THE CHURCH INCLUDED WORKS BY RUBENS, CARAVAGGIO, VAN DYCK, JORDAENS AND OTHER FLEMISH MASTERS.

RUBENS' FAMOUS PAINTING 'FLAGELLATION' - VALUED AT MORE THAN GBP1-MILLION STERLING - WAS REMOVED FROM THE BUILDING ONLY MINUTES BEFORE THE ROOF OF THE CHURCH FELL IN .

THE CHURCH WAS GUTTED IN THE BLAZE. FOUR GREAT BELLS WHICH HAVE STOOD IN THE CHURCH BELFRY FOR SEVERAL CENTURIES WERE MADE MOLTEN IN THE HEAT OF THE BLAZE.