Peking: Požar `progutao` zgradu CCTV-a

Bivša zgrada CCTV-a u Pekingu potpuno je uništena u požaru. Zgrada je trebala biti prenamijenjena u hotel.

It's the last day of the Lunar New Year holiday in China -- but the nighttime skyline in Beijing was anything but celebratory.

A raging fire engulfed part of Central China Television's new headquarters. Flames shot out of the building, just north of the landmark CCTV tower.

No one appeared to have been in the building, a policeman on the scene said -- adding there were no reports of casualties.

Hundreds of people watched and took photos as fire trucks sprayed streams of water on the building.

The destroyed building housed the Mandarin Oriental hotel -- which was supposed to open this year.

The fire department did not immediately comment on the cause of the blaze, which occurred amid fireworks displays throughout the city to celebrate China's Lantern festival.

Jon Decker, Reuters.