Apollo11
Posts: 24082
Joined: 6/7/2001 From: Zagreb, Croatia Status: offline
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Hi all, Terrible... just like the old movie... quote:
42 Die in China Tower Block Blaze by Sun UK AT least 42 people have died after a skyscraper fire in China left panicked residents trampling over each other in a bid to flee the inferno. Bright orange flames enveloped scaffolding surrounding the tower and soon spread to the rest of the high rise. Thick smoke could be seen from several miles away as the fire raged and gutted most of the building. Survivor Li Xiuyun, 61, said she fled down the steps of the building with her husband, son and granddaughter from their home on the 16th floor until they met up with firefighters who took them to safety. She said: "The smoke was very strong and the glass from the windows was scalding." Speaking from hospital she told how she cut her feet on shattered glass when fleeing. She added: "My son took off his socks and soaked them with water, and we used them to cover our noses. I stumbled on people on the floor when walking." The building was an apartment block for teachers and reports said most of them had already retired. Some occupants could be seen clinging to the metal scaffolding surrounding the building, trying to escape the flames while a helicopter lowered a rescuer down to the roof. Firefighters eventually extinguished the blaze after four and a half hours and torch beams could be seen in the darkness afterwards as rescuers searched the building's upper levels. Earlier the local hospital said it had taken in 55 fire victims, nine of whom were in a serious condition. Shanghai television said 61 fire engines had been called in to fight the fire, along with three helicopters. Residents were evacuated to a nearby stadium where rescue officials had set up a command centre. Leo "Apollo11"
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Prior Preparation & Planning Prevents Pathetically Poor Performance! A & B: WitW, WitE, WbtS, GGWaW, GGWaW2-AWD, HttR, CotA, BftB, CF P: UV, WitP, WitP-AE
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