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Fatal fire destroys Beijing hotel | Fatal fire destroys Beijing hotel |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Investigators have blamed China's state TV for a huge fire that destroyed a hotel in Beijing, saying fire-crackers it illegally set off caused the blaze. | |
A firefighter died after inhaling toxic fumes and six people were injured in the fire at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel that raged for more than five hours. | |
China Central Television (CCTV) staged the fireworks display nearby to mark the end of Lunar New Year celebrations. | |
The hotel, which is under construction, was empty when the fire broke out. | |
The 44-storey building is located just a few hundred metres from CCTV's iconic headquarters - designed as part of the city's Olympic makeover. | |
The flagship Mandarin Oriental Hotel was nearly completedThe complex cost 5bn yuan ($731m; £495m), according to the official Xinhua news agency. | |
The authorities said the broadcaster had gone against police warnings and set off fireworks in the complex that were far more powerful than those allowed for public use. | |
Police are questioning those in charge of the display, Xinhua quoted Beijing fire spokesman Luo Yuan as saying. | |
The blaze, which was filmed by CCTV, drew onlookers from across China's capital, as clouds of sparks and smoke spurted from the tower. | |
Fireworks were set off across Beijing on Monday night to celebrate the first full moon since the Lunar New Year. |