New Beijing Luxury Hotel Burns

By Erin Mendell, Newser User

Posted Feb 9, 2009 3:50 PM CST

(Newser) – A new luxury hotel in Beijing went up in flames today as nearby crowds watched a fireworks show for the end of the Lunar New Year, CNN reports. An explosion of flames erupted from the top of the newly built, unoccupied building as fire engulfed all 44 stories. The cause is unknown, but sources say fireworks may have sparked the blaze, the AP reports. Click the image to view a slide show of the fire.

[Images (7)]

[Videos (1)]

A Chinese man uses his mobile phone to take pictures as an unfinished Beijing hotel burns amid a holiday fireworks bonanza in Beijing, China, Monday, Feb. 9, 2009. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Firefighters arrive at the scene as an unfinished Beijing hotel caught fire amid a holiday fireworks bonanza. The Mandarin Oriental hotel caught fire sometime before 9:00pm. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

People gather to watch as the unfinished Beijing hotel catches fire amid a holiday fireworks bonanza. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Fire engines race to reach the scene as an unfinished Beijing hotel catches fire amid a holiday fireworks bonanza in Beijing, China, Monday, Feb. 9, 2009. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

People gather to watch as the unfinished Beijing hotel catches fire amid a holiday fireworks bonanza in Beijing, China, Monday, Feb. 9, 2009. (AP Photo/Andy Wong)

Fire engines try to put out the fire on an unfinished Beijing hotel burns amid a holiday fireworks bonanza in Beijing, China, Monday, Feb. 9, 2009. (AP Photo/Color China Photo)

Fire leaps into the night sky as an unfinished Beijing hotel burns amid a holiday fireworks bonanza in Beijing, China, Monday, Feb. 9, 2009. The Mandarin Oriental hotel was due to open this year. (AP Photo)

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