Flames engulfed a luxury hotel that forms part of the landmark new headquarters of Chinese state television yesterday after sparks from fireworks set off to celebrate the biggest holiday of the year showered the capital.
The wail of police sirens from hundreds of vehicles racing to the building was almost drowned by the constant eruptions from firecrackers and fireworks being lit to mark the Lantern Festival, which is the final day of the Chinese New Year holiday.
The flames shooting up the side of the 44-storey building sent off plumes of black smoke and showered the ground with embers. At least seven fire crews fought to bring the fire under control.
The Television Cultural Centre was to have housed the 241-room Mandarin Oriental Hotel as well as a theatre and recording studios. It formed the smaller of two huge buildings that make up the China Central Television complex due to be completed towards the end of this year at a cost of about $730 million (£490 million).
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