Update: This video is from Youku, a very important evidence by a witness at the very first time:

Here're some photos from the Google Doc.

People were watching and worried about the situation:

Two video clips from Youku:

Well, if you've been living in China, especially in Beijing, you would heard of the custom about fireworks/firecrackers – it originated thousands of years ago, and it's still very popular among elder Chinese people. I can even hear firecrackers from almost everywhere when I write this post in Wuhan, 10PM, Feb 9.

As the population goes up, the security issues are also a big problem! Cat Chen, an author of us also wrote something about this early in 2008. I'm also looking forward to some more reasonable but restricted policies for the firecrackers in China.

Wish everyone a safe, happy Chinese Lantern Festival!

Update:

Zhang Jianyong, a fire fighter from Hongmiao Fire department died in this accident. He was born on Feb 26, 1979, from Shenyang, capital of northeastern Liaoning Province. It is really a big sorrow that there're only weeks to go for his 30th birthday!

May He Rest In Peace!