A team of ten people are employed to repair two of the four damaged Radio Netherlands transmitters. Broadcasts through these transmitters may be resumed later today. It is hoped the other two transmitters will be repaired by the end of this week.

Experts are still examining the origin of the fire which broke out in the transmission station of Radio Netherlands Worldwide (RNW) on Madagascar last week.

In the night of December 24 to 25 the fire broke out in the high voltage area of the station. Fire fighters from the capital Antananarivo managed to bring the blaze under control within hours. In the days after the blaze large parts of Africa and Southeast Asia were unable to receive RNW shortwave broadcasts. Halfway the week most of the broadcasts were aired through other stations.

Not only Radio Netherlands was affected by the fire. Eleven other broadcasters were unable to air their programmes, amongst which Zimbabwean radio station Voice of the People. Broadcasts via satellite and internet, however, have been available.

RNW provides news, background and cultural information to millions of people throughout the world via radio, television and the internet. The station broadcasts in ten languages with the aim of giving people access to objective news and information.