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Beijing's state TV complex damaged by blaze
Fire consumed part of the Chinese state broadcaster's landmark headquarters complex in Beijing yesterday evening as many in the capital celebrated the end of the lunar new year holiday by setting off fireworks.
Flames leapt out of an unoccupied tower just north of the new Central China Television head- quarters designed by Rem Koolhaas, the Dutch architect. The tower was built to house the Mandarin Oriental hotel, due to open this year.
The fire department did not immediately comment on the suspected cause of the blaze. But witnesses in the crowd said they saw a large professional fireworks display next to the building before it caught fire.
For the superstitious Chinese, the fire is likely to be seen as a bad omen.
Hung Huang, a Chinese television talk show host reporting from the scene of the blaze, said: “On the final day of the lunar new year we are supposed to burn the old to allow the new to come in, but in this case it looks like we are burning the new.”
Many people in China were hoping for a more auspicious start to the year of the ox after the disasters of last year. CCTV, as the mouthpiece of the ruling Communist party, is seen as a symbol of state power.
As well as the Mandarin Oriental hotel, the tower was designed to include a theatre, recording studios and cinemas. CCTV's main production and broadcasting units are expected to occupy the main building next door.
No one appeared to have been in the building, a policeman on the scene said, adding he had no immediate knowledge of any casualties.
