The burning shell of the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, which was set to open next month as part of the ultramodern new headquarters of China Central Television (CCTV), lit the night sky over downtown Beijing on February 9, the Lantern Festival.

According to the municipal firefighting authorities, CCTV hired people who illegally set off high-explosive fireworks for festive celebrations in an outside area near the north wing, where a luxury hotel, a television studio and an electronic data processing center are located.

CCTV made a live broadcast public apology for the great loss that the fire inflicted on state assets and for traffic congestion and inconvenience that affected nearby residents.