The World Heritage Centre expresses its deep concern after the fire on the Cutty Sark tea clipper, part of the Maritime Greenwich World Heritage site located in the United Kingdom.
On 21 May 2007, the British authorities informed the World Heritage Centre that a fire had swept through the Cutty Sark. The fire started around 4.45 am on Monday and the damage has been substantial. However, due to a restoration project that has been taking place, about 50% of the ship had previously been removed to storage and was therefore unaffected. UNESCO will consult with the national authorities and the site management to assess any damage to the outstanding universal value of the site and any urgent measures to be taken, after establishing a clearer picture of the circumstances surrounding the start of the fire and the extent of the damage.
