National Games torch lit from deep-sea source flame

Guangzhou's Nansha district hosted the torch-lighting ceremony for the 15th National Games, the 12th National Games for Persons with Disabilities, and the 9th National Special Olympic Games on Thursday.

The source flame originated from the Haima cold seep in the South China Sea at a depth of 1,522 meters. Researchers remotely controlled a device that collected methane gas seeping from the seabed. After synthesizing methane hydrate, they obtained decomposed gas via a pressure reduction device and used electricity from a solar photovoltaic power generation system to achieve deep-sea ignition. Their work resulted in the first time that a source flame has been directly obtained from the deep-sea floor.