Huge Fire Destroys Hundreds of Buildings in Ancient Tibetan Town - Wooden Structures Fed The Inferno

A cellphone photo of  Dukezong burning (Xinhua)

January 11, 2014 - Flames devoured much of Dukezong, a 1,300 year old Tibetan town. The blazing inferno started around 1:30 a.m. on Saturday and quickly consumed old wooden buildings for about 10 hours.

More that 2,000 people were evacuated. No injuries have been reported. Dukezong, a popular tourist destination, is in the southwestern Chinese province Yunnan (see map), which is better known to Westerners as Shangri-la.

"Hundreds of buildings, including one with monument status dating to the early 17th century, were destroyed in the fire which began early yesterday in Dukezong Ancient Town," South China Morning Post reported. "Locals estimated that more than 70 per cent of Dukezong was destroyed, including the town's central Sifang Street and a white Tibetan prayer tower."

"According to local officials, more than 240 houses have been destroyed by the blaze, and at least two thousand people evacuated." reports CCTV. "Initial investigation has ruled out arson. The fire in Dukezong town of the resort county of Shangri-La broke out at around half past one on Saturday morning.... Most of the structures there are made of wood, making it easier for the fire to spread and difficult for fire-fighting operations."  More below video...


Dukezong means "the town of moon" in Tibetan and was "an important town on the South Silk Road, also known as the Ancient Road of Tea and Horse. It is now one of the most renowned resorts in Shangri-la, known for its well-preserved ancient Tibetan dwellings," according to Xinhua news agency.

On Camera: Deadly Fireworks Factory Explosion In Quebec

Viral Report YouTube Channel

June 21, 2013 - Two women died in a massive explosion on Thursday at a fireworks factory in the town of Coteau-du-Lac, located in southwestern Quebec, Canada (map). The explosion was caught on camera, and you can see videos below.

The B.E.M. fireworks plant and warehouse were completely destroyed by the fire and resulting blast. The cause of the fire is still not known. Authorities are still trying to determine why the fire started at B.E.M., which employed about two dozen people and has been in Coteau-du-Lac since 1970. There were no sprinklers in the building.

Two bodies were found in the still-smoldering ruins, reports the Montreal Gazette. "The initial explosion occurred shortly before 9 a.m., followed by smaller blasts and an intense fire that burned for three hours. Nearby residents were forced from their homes and a portion of Highway 20 west of Montreal was closed for hours." The Gazette also reports that "Fire Chief Stéphane Massicotte said a total of 14 fire departments responded to the call from as far away as Pincourt. There were 150 firefighters on the scene." In a later report, the Gazette identified the two killed in the inferno as Francine Lacroix, a 47-year-old resident of Riviere-Beaudette, and Nicole Brisson, 58, of Les Coteaux. Both women were B.E.M. employees.

In the video below, the explosion begins at 0:37

Video Below: News report from SUN News

Upchucking History

Flashback (not drug-induced) to 1968.

The 1968 Democratic National Convention protests were a glorification platform for the SDS and the New Lefties, but it was a Pyrhhic victory--the chaos of old guard Democrat Richard J. Daleys cops' beating up the newbies ensured Richard Nixon's victory a few months later.

Sadly we've got almost 400 days of 1968 love-ins to suffer through. But there is good news. In 2009 we can celebrate the 20th anniversary of the revolutions of 1989. This time, "Power to the People" wasn't just an empty phrase. FULL POST at MARATHON PUNDIT...