Tue, March 02, 2010
Photos showing the charred interior of the landmark CCTV headquarters after a firework display went disastrously wrong were published for the first time in the Beijing Times on Tuesday.
The images give the nation a first glimpse inside the wrecked China Central Television HQ after the building caught fire during the Chinese New Year festival last year.
On February 9, 2009, CCTV's luxurious tower, in its final stage of construction, was engulfed in flames after an illegal fireworks display was arranged by the lucrative broadcaster. One fireman died in the blaze. The direct economic losses topped over 160 million yuan ($23.44 million).
The seared landmark has since become a national running joke of extravagant spending and outright corruption.
Among the twenty-one people charged over the fatal blaze in later February this year was Xu Wei, former head of CCTV's construction bureau. The identities of 20 others were not disclosed.
According to a statement from the State Council in early February, 71 people were found responsible for the accident. Forty-four of them would face criminal charges while 27 others would suffer party and administrative disciplinary demerits.
