The fire struck the Museum of Terra-cotta Warriors near Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, on Thursday had caused no damage to the relics in the pit, the local cultural heritage department said Friday.

The accident occurred at 10 a.m. at a cooling tower under construction 100 meters away from the No. 1 Pit when sparks splashed from a welding machine and caused fire in the tower.

Police and firemen from the museum and the local security bureau rushed to the site immediately. Though fortunately it didn't affect the terra-cotta horses and warriors in the pit, the cooling tower was badly damaged, said police.

Famous as the "world's eighth wonder," the terra-cotta worriers were found in Emperor Qin Shihuang's tomb in Lintong District of Xi'an. The museum established at the site houses 8,000 life-size terra-cotta warriors and horses made in Qin Dynasty (221-207 BC). They have been put on the World Cultural Heritage list.