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Beijing party that went horribly wrong
Spectacular explosions over Beijing heralded the end of the lunar new year. But as the fireworks rose and fell, a new landmark building caught fire.
Parts of the building, which included the unfinished headquarters of state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV), were quickly overwhelmed by flames.
Officials from CCTV were using the new building - all sharp angles and gravity-defying engineering - as the backdrop for an illegal pyrotechnics display.
It was still under construction, so the sprinkler system was not switched on.
The entire 33-storey block may have to come down.
The main CCTV building is known as the "giant underpants". Soon insults began appearing on websites: "Liar, liar, pants on fire."
Spectacular explosions over Beijing heralded the end of the lunar new year. But as the fireworks rose and fell, a new landmark building caught fire.
Parts of the building, which included the unfinished headquarters of state broadcaster China Central Television (CCTV), were quickly overwhelmed by flames.
Officials from CCTV were using the new building - all sharp angles and gravity-defying engineering - as the backdrop for an illegal pyrotechnics display.
It was still under construction, so the sprinkler system was not switched on.
The entire 33-storey block may have to come down.
The main CCTV building is known as the "giant underpants". Soon insults began appearing on websites: "Liar, liar, pants on fire."
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